Nuno Espirito Santo gives his first interview as new West Ham boss as Graham Potter breaks his silence on being sacked by the club.
The new Hammers boss expressed his excitement and honour in joining West Ham United, noting the importance of building a strong connection with the players and fans, with the aim to create a solid platform by getting to know the squad, preparing for upcoming challenges like the Everton match, and fostering a unified club identity.
He stressed that the team must first deliver to earn their support, creating a formidable atmosphere for opponents and described the Premier League as the most challenging.
đŁď¸ “It’s an absolute outrage”
The Mail’s Dominic King criticises the treatment of Graham Potter by West Ham after he was ‘ridiculed’ in the pre-match press conference. pic.twitter.com/nFZ1g2yh9g
â Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 28, 2025
Graham Potter out, Nuno Espirito Santo in at West Ham.
Have the Hammers made the right call?#MOTD #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/7xkz4HqbBs
â Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) September 27, 2025
Nuno’s announcement came hours after Potter was sacked. In a statement released through the LMA, Potter said: ‘I am incredibly disappointed to be leaving West Ham United Football Club, particularly without being able to achieve what we set out to achieve at the start of our journey in East London.
‘I do however fully acknowledge that the results have just not been good enough up to now.
‘Firstly, thank you to the board for offering me the opportunity to manage the team during the past 8 months.
‘It was an honour and a privilege to manage such a historic club, which holds such strong values for footballing traditions and passion for the game.
‘I’d like to thank all the staff at the club who made me feel so welcome, the playing squad and their continued efforts during my time – and lastly the fans, who have been so supportive during what has been a difficult journey at times.
‘I wish the club nothing but the best of luck for the future. Thank you and goodbye for now. Come on you irons. GP X.’
Nuno â welcome to West Ham United. How does it feel to be here?
âIt feels good. Iâm very happy to be here. Honoured and ready to work. Iâm glad to face the challenge.â
This is a big Club and a big opportunity for you and for the Club â is that how you feel?
âFirst of all, what is important is that now we know each other, mainly us, the squad, the players. This is what is more important now. We are here working. We started yesterday (Saturday) realising that this is a big, big Club.
âThere are expectations, but before all the expectations, all the achievements that we desire, that we want to do, we must create a platform of knowledge, of coming closer to the fans, the team and the fans. And from there we can start building.â
What are your initial responsibilities as Head Coach?
âIâm trying to, as soon as possible, know all the players. I think I know them better than they know me, because itâs like that. We are coaches and we try to take all the info that we can about the players. Many of them, we faced each other before and now itâs preparing for the game, a tough game against Everton.
âDay by day, and youâll listen to me many times speaking about this but itâs what I believe, itâs day by day, each day has to be the best one of us.â
How important is the Claret and Blue Armyâs role?
âThe supporters are very important, very important. Thatâs why I truly believe what we want to achieve is a platform to be able [to build from]. Now is not the moment to ask the fans. Now is the moment to deliver to the fans. I think we have to give them, so then they can give us back.
âWhen we have this bond, when other teams come to play against us, itâs going to be hell. But we have to achieve this bond first. We have protect each other, all of us inside of the building, the fans, everybody. Everybody that really cares about West Ham has to protect each other.â
What is it thatâs so special about coaching in this country, in the Premier League?
âItâs the best one. Itâs the most challenging. Itâs where the best players are. Itâs what we love, to compete here in the Premier League.â
It is such a totally immersive role being a Premier League head coach. You have to give up so many things. What is it that fuels your passion for the role?
âItâs my life. My life is football since I know myself. So itâs my routine. I wake up, I go to sleep thinking about football. Now in my head is âhow can I make these players better? How can I improve them?â. If I improve the player, I improve the team. The team will improve the club. So itâs like this.â
What are the things about the game that you played, and as you say itâs been your life, what is it about football that is so special, what fuels your love for the game?
âWe love the game. We are here because we love the game, isnât it? So, what we want to do is to enjoy, but be responsible, be committed. And this is how I take my life â trying to come and help, come to try and give new solutions, new things, things that can make us better.â
You talk about the relationship with the fans, but also with your squad you talked about, and you have players who you know from previous clubs and from the Premier League?
âWe know each other, like I said to you before. Itâs been many years. We faced [each other] many, many times. We know each other, even as opponents. Like you say [I worked with] Max [Kilman], but now itâs a new beginning for everybody. Itâs a new process that we really have to know, and we find out who we are and what we want to be.
âFirst of all, we have to realise who we are, and then we can create an identity. But first of all, we have to know each other really, really well.â
You have been involved in the local communities at your previous clubs. West Ham is East London. Weâve got a huge community, a very diverse community here. Are you looking forward to being part of a club thatâs a family with members from so many different parts of the world?
âYes, of course. I want to integrate myself, first of all, in the Club, with you (the staff), with all the people here, because we have to become as a family. We have to realise that we are the ones that represent the community. The community sees us as a mirror, as an image that they want to [be], so thatâs why we have to make strong values. We have to be respectful to each other.â
Here’s how fans reacted as Nuno gives his first interview as new West Ham boss while Graham Potter breaks his silence on being sacked…
@FrankieAdams27: Seems such a top geeza, the way the board have dealt with him is so poor Shoudlve sacked him start of the week not 2 days before Everton, wish him the best âď¸
@jacksonbrigga: honestly fair play to the bloke. i really wanted it to work out for him but results just never got going and he went away from youth which was the one thing the club wanted and needed⌠all the best for the future graham!
@BabblingIrons: Comes across really well in this! What struck me was his point that they can’t keep asking for the fans to give something & it’s time for them to show, to earn trust back to great unity. Wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment too. As ever we Support the Team & not the Regime
@luc_bailey1: Oh ffs here he goes saying all the right things reeling me in đŠđŞ
@deutsch_richter: We were piss poor under Potter but, whoever thinks that change was made for that reason is mistaken. The only reason the owners made the change is to protect their investment and to take some heat off. If they knew we’d stay up with Potter in charge, he’d still be here #COYI âď¸
@whucam_: We have every ability to create atmosphere at LS, weâve shown it on multiple occasions. Letâs hope Nuno can create a team that represents us fans so the energy can translate into atmosphere âď¸
@Perkinz9: Itâs easy for a manager to come in, especially after a shit show, and make it all sound good – Potter did too. But I like the gist of what heâs getting at. He doesnât deserve any respect, he needs to earn it, and so do the team. Build the team, the trust and then a fortress!
@DHurleybooks: Yep, Iâm on board. Just this language is so much better, rather than âwe had to sufferâ, âtrust the processâ, âstick togetherâ etc. This is what it needs to be right now.
@TheLawless: Free & available, classic Sullivan. Still Nuno is a good manager, not thrilled about his football but we will be away from the bottom 3. Lets hope it clicks for him. Regardless its always #BSOUT
@SixFootTwo: Under this ownership, changing manager is like fixing the heating on the Titanic – it might feel nice and warm for a bit but it aint gonna stop the demise. Tbh Loppy, Potter, Nuno? – Makes little difference to me, when the real issues are above their pay grades.
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