On the face of it, West Ham United’s head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s praise for Mads Hermansen yesterday during the pre-game press conference could be taken as a hint that he intends to select the Dane against Manchester United.
Labelling him ‘special’ would hardly seem portentous of Hermansen’s likely demotion to the bench.
However possibly as a smoke screen or more likely that Nuno genuinely hasn’t made up his mind yet, the manager then waxed lyrical upon the benefits of both working together as a team and hinted that neither Areola nor Hermansen were in the ascendency:
“The goalkeeping situation is a special one inside of the group. We decided to put Mads in [against Burnley] and he did a good job. They [Hermansen and Alphonse Areloa] are helping each other and everyone wants to make decisions for the best of the team.”
“I have been there. As you know, I was a goalkeeper – sometimes I played, sometimes I didn’t. They’re all there to help each other, and this what’s happening in our small group of goalkeepers – realising that the one who plays, needs the one who doesn’t to make him better.”
Better shot stopper? Areola or Hermansen: Nuno keeps everyone guessing
It would seem harsh to drop Hermansen after West Ham secured just their second clean sheet of the season at the weekend: The Dane was also in goal when the Irons last achieved the same feat but there’s a strong groundswell of opinion that Areola may be the better choice and able to withstand the far bigger threat offered by tonight’s opponents.
Nuno certainly wasn’t in the mood to give anything away yesterday, meaning both will have to be ready for the nod today. Areola does have the presence – which implies greater solidity thanks to his more imposing stature: Hermansen has the clean sheets and the better distribution. Glad it isn’t my call.
His comments could also be read as trying to quell discontent from Areola over being dropped
Or just using common sense and being truthful?