West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo refused to be drawn on speculation surrounding his future when he spoke to the press ahead of Sunday’s clash with Arsenal.
The Portuguese coach has, depending on which way you look at it, either benefited from or become the victim of almost every possible prediction regarding what happens next season.
Earlier this week, it emerged that Nuno very much wants to remain as West Ham manager even if the club are relegated. That revelation followed reports suggesting David Sullivan would be keen to keep him in charge beyond this season.
Contradictory Claims Continue To Emerge
However, during his latest update on The West Ham Way, ExWHUEmployee claimed a top London Stadium source knew nothing about any such plan, bluntly responding: “I don’t know, ask Nuno.”
Then later in the week, a source with excellent connections to West Ham exclusively told Claret & Hugh that Espírito Santo’s contract only applies while the club remain in the Premier League. Meaning that if West Ham are relegated, the manager would effectively be out of contract.
So yes, quite the mixture of conflicting outcomes.
Nuno Focused Solely On Arsenal
When pressed on the speculation, it was clear Nuno had no intention of getting dragged into the debate.
“I’m gonna be honest, I don’t have one second to think of next season. It’s such a challenge just to think about Arsenal on Sunday.
“I don’t have the energy to think about everything else. It’s all about Sunday, that’s our mission.”
Hope Amid The Uncertainty
Quite how much of that is entirely true, I’m not so sure.
After all, Nuno wouldn’t be human if he hadn’t at least thought about what the future may hold beyond this season.
That said, I do genuinely believe he’s fully focused on the Arsenal game.
And the more I listened to him speak, the more it gave me hope that West Ham can still get something from Sunday’s fixture.