Nuno Espirito Santo has taken time to consider how his approach to management and his own perspective have shifted considerably since his last spell in charge of a Championship side. Eight years have passed since he departed Wolves, and the landscape of English football's second tier has transformed markedly in that interval.
Life changes as you get older.The Portuguese manager offered this philosophical observation when discussing his journey back to the Championship and the lessons he has learned along the way.
He went on to elaborate on the specific ways in which the division has evolved.
There are a lot of things that have changed, the league has got harder. There is more quality. But some things stay the same. We still need hard work, honesty.
West Ham's campaign began with considerable difficulty, as they struggled to register a victory during their opening three fixtures in August. The turning point arrived in early September when they travelled to face Nuno's former employers, Wolves, at the London Stadium.
That encounter proved decisive. West Ham secured a commanding 4-2 victory, a result that fundamentally altered the trajectory of their season. Following this breakthrough, the Hammers embarked on an impressive run that yielded three additional victories and a draw before the international break arrived. According to BBC Sport, West Ham scored 18 goals across five September matches, demonstrating their attacking prowess during this period.
This sustained excellence earned Nuno recognition from the EFL, as he was nominated for the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month award for September.
It was an important win [against Wolves].Nuno reflected on the significance of that pivotal encounter.
It was important for me and important for the players to achieve it. It started against Wolves and it continued to the draw at Millwall.
West Ham's most recent outing saw them demonstrate considerable character and resilience. At The Den, they found themselves two goals adrift at one stage but fought back to secure a 2-2 draw. According to Sportskeeda, the comeback included goals from Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mohamadou Kanté.
It was a good reaction from all of us in the second half, a game that didn't start well, but we reacted well in the second half and we finished the game strong.Nuno acknowledged the positive aspects of their performance while maintaining his exacting standards.
It was a positive for all of us, but I still believe that we should have done things better and tried to achieve a different result.
He adopted a forward-looking stance regarding the result.
It's in the past. Let's try to move forward and focus on what's to come.
The international break provided West Ham with a valuable opportunity to recover both physically and mentally after what had been an arduous fixture schedule. For Nuno and those squad members not representing their nations, the respite proved essential. However, the manager acknowledged the inherent anxiety that accompanies such breaks.
It was important for all of us. It was a very tough schedule, so having these days to not only recover physically but also mentally, of course it was too much time, but normally it is. I feel healthy, which is important.
Nuno expressed his pride in having players selected for international duty whilst simultaneously harbouring concerns about their welfare.
We are proud that our players represent their own countries, but always worried because we need them to come back okay. It's important how we receive these players.
Preparation for the upcoming fixture has been limited but encouraging.
We have only had one day back all together. But the dynamic of the session was good and that the boys that weren't here have reintegrated.
The Challenge Ahead
West Ham face QPR at the London Stadium on Friday night, 9 October, with the match broadcast live on Sky Sports. According to BBC Sport, kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 BST.
A victory would propel West Ham to the summit of the Championship table ahead of the weekend's remaining fixtures. However, Nuno remains acutely aware that the Championship season demands sustained excellence rather than short bursts of form.
We have a lot of things to improve. It's a squad that is new. A lot of players have joined us.The manager emphasised the ongoing development required from his team.
I've chased this objective to always be sustainable in our performances, our play. We have major challenges ahead of us.
One area in which West Ham have demonstrated particular effectiveness is their set-piece execution. They have already accumulated six goals from set-plays out of their total of 22, a striking conversion rate. Mavropanos, their centre-back, has been especially prolific in this regard, having scored four goals in his last four appearances.
They have been so important. To have players like Dinos [Mavropanos], and Max [Kilman], they are such threats. It's a positive. We also have the delivery and the accuracy.Nuno acknowledged the value of this attacking dimension.
But we do need to find the balance between the offence and the defence of them. It takes a lot of time.
West Ham's previous home fixture on a Friday evening proved memorable for all the right reasons. They dismantled Wrexham with a devastating 6-0 victory, creating one of the most electrifying atmospheres witnessed at the London Stadium in recent memory. The manager recognises that such an environment will prove invaluable against QPR.
It's crucial for us. Our fans have been amazing at the stadium. I hope they're always with us, again, under the lights.Nuno concluded with an expression of optimism regarding the occasion.
It's a perfect scenario for us to put in a good performance.
