West Ham United manager Nuno Espírito Santo has addressed team news, January signings, and the importance of their upcoming Premier League match against Burnley, who remain winless in 15 games.
On injuries, Nuno confirmed most players are available except Jean-Clair Todibo, suspended due to a red card. “There are some problems that we have to monitor, players that we need to see carefully but apart from JC, everyone else is available. Hopefully,” he said.
Regarding new loan signing Axel Disasi, Nuno said: “I think he’s been working and physically he’s in a good place. Of course, now he has to get in of the team, but I think he can help us, he’s a strong defender and good on the ball.” Disasi’s readiness will be further assessed on Friday following limited game time at Chelsea.
On the absence of a replacement for Lucas Paqueta, Nuno noted: “You can have targets, and those targets are at other clubs. It’s not just what you want but what the other clubs do also.”
The manager praised January recruits for their commitment: “You have to be brave to join a club in this situation and they have shown a commitment and purpose to come and help. I’m positively aware that they understand the fight we are involved in.”
On facing Burnley, Nuno said: “No we never feel superior because we know it’s always going to be tough. Burnley are a good team, fighting for the same objective as us, and it’s their home ground. We played them here at London Stadium in November, and it was very hard. They will react, and we have to be ready for that.”
He also emphasised the match’s importance: “There’s a lot of football to be played but this is a very important game. This game means a lot to us, especially reacting to what happened with Chelsea.”
