Nuno Espírito Santo has warned that “more improvement is needed” from West Ham United as they prepare to host Aston Villa in the Premier League. Despite positive early momentum under the Portuguese coach, he insists the team are still far from the level required to survive comfortably this season.
Since Santo’s arrival in September, West Ham have stitched together back-to-back league wins for the first time since February, climbing out of the relegation zone and restoring belief among supporters. But the Hammers’ head coach remains clear-eyed about the work ahead.
Santo calls for balance — and a clean sheet at last
West Ham have yet to keep a clean sheet under Santo, something he says must change if the team is to progress.
“We haven’t achieved a clean sheet yet. That is something we need to do. There is improvement, but not total improvement. We still haven’t reached the standard we expect. We are creating chances — it is about finding the balance.” — Nuno Espírito Santo
He emphasised the need for collective buy-in as he attempts to re-establish defensive identity and structure.
“When I came inside it was the moment to assess. How are we going to be hard to beat? How are we going to compete? And more importantly — how are we going to operate as a group?”
Nuno stressed that improvement must come from the entire squad, not just the matchday XI.
Key players leaving for AFCON
West Ham’s challenge intensifies after the Villa game, with both El Hadji Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka set to join their national teams for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
“We are going to miss them. It is something we have to deal with as a squad. We have to find solutions. We have other options.”
Praise for Bowen — West Ham’s leader on and off the pitch
Jarrod Bowen continues to be a central figure in Santo’s plans, and the manager highlighted his influence again.
“What he is giving to the team is huge. He leads by example. He is our captain. I hope he is involved every minute — but if he’s not available, I have a group of players with leadership qualities.”
Bowen’s leadership and output remain essential as West Ham enter a run of fixtures that could shape the remainder of their season.
Honouring Billy Bonds
Santo also confirmed that the match will serve as a moment to honour club legend Billy Bonds, who passed away recently.
“It is going to be a good chance to pay tribute to him. The day we got the sad news was a shock. Now we can celebrate and honour his life.”
Numbers That Tell the Story — West Ham Summer Spending (2025)
| Player | Position | Age | From | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mateus Fernandes | CM | 21 | Southampton | €44m |
| Jean-Clair Todibo | CB | 25 | Nice | €40m |
| El Hadji Malick Diouf | LB | 20 | Slavia Prague | €22m |
| Mads Hermansen | GK | 25 | Leicester | €20.8m |
| Soungoutou Magassa | DM | 21 | Monaco | €17m |
| Kyle Walker-Peters | RB | 28 | Southampton | Free |
| Callum Wilson | CF | 33 | Newcastle | Free |
| Igor Julio | CB | 27 | Brighton | Loan |
source: Transfermarkt
data – 12 December 2025
Despite major investment, West Ham remain winless in their last five Premier League matches against Aston Villa — a run they must break to maintain momentum under Santo.
Santo is right — West Ham must evolve quickly
In our view, the message of Nuno Santo for improvements reflects a manager who understands the urgency of the moment. Although some fans may be satisfied with early signs of progress, the nuance is that Santo is building structure first — and structure takes time. But clean sheets must arrive sooner rather than later.
He thrives when his team defends compactly and transitions with purpose. West Ham are not there yet. That is why his public insistence on “balance” is significant — the side creates chances, but without defensive reliability, those chances mean little.
A fair counterpoint: West Ham’s squad turnover this summer was enormous. Integrating eight new players at Premier League pace rarely produces instant consistency. But the fundamentals are improving — and Santo knows it.
AFCON absences will test the squad’s depth
Losing Diouf and Wan-Bissaka will force Santo into tactical adjustments, especially on the flanks. Depth at full-back becomes a potential weakness, and West Ham will need leaders beyond Bowen to navigate January.
Key Insights
- Santo says West Ham must improve further despite recent wins.
- The team has yet to keep a clean sheet under his management.
- Bowen praised for leadership and importance to the squad.
- Diouf and Wan-Bissaka will leave for AFCON after the Villa match.
- Santo expects squad-wide responsibility for improvement.
What’s Next
West Ham host Aston Villa aiming to end a five-game winless streak against Unai Emery’s side. With AFCON absences looming, a positive result could prove vital before the January period intensifies.
👉 West Ham fans — are you encouraged by Santo’s honesty, or worried by his warnings?
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