West Ham United assistant manager Paco Jémez has revealed he is more than happy to dish out a bit of plain speaking to Hammers boss Nuno Espírito Santo.
Jémez is quickly becoming something of a cult hero among West Ham supporters. His animated presence is often caught on camera — whether on the touchline in intense conversation with Nuno or in training-ground footage released by the club.
Paco joined West Ham last month after a lengthy search for Nuno’s assistant, and it didn’t take long for him to make headlines. He was soon pictured in a heated exchange with the head coach over a substitution involving Max Kilman.
The clip went viral and struck a chord with many Irons fans, who also questioned whether Kilman was the right change at that moment.
But any talk of tension was swiftly dismissed.
“When He Sees My Face, He Knows”
Jémez has repeatedly stressed there is no rift between him and Nuno — and that disagreement is not only accepted, but encouraged.
Speaking yesterday, Paco said:
“Those of us on the bench are there to help each other. To give him (Nuno) our ideas, to give him our convictions, to get angry with him when we think he’s not making the right decision. When he sees my face, he knows whether I agree or not, because he knows me.”
And if recent results are anything to go by, that open dialogue may be playing a significant role in the Hammers’ resurgence. Long may iy continue.