{"id":611893,"date":"2025-12-04T15:25:19","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T15:25:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/611893\/"},"modified":"2025-12-04T15:25:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T15:25:19","slug":"mateus-fernandes-has-just-said-the-four-words-all-west-ham-fans-to-hear-before-man-united-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/611893\/","title":{"rendered":"Mateus Fernandes has just said the four words all West Ham fans to hear before Man United clash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mateus Fernandes uttered the four words every West Ham supporter would have wanted to hear before Thursday\u2019s trip to Ruben Amorim\u2019s Manchester United.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Though they say that \u2018actions speak louder than words\u2019 for a very good reason.<\/p>\n

How many times this season already have West Ham United<\/a> failed to walk the walk, after spending much of the pre-match build up talking the talk? While Fulham for example seem to have a happy habit of bloodying the noses of the Premier League\u2019s big boys, West Ham\u2019s record against the division\u2019s traditional giants has been pretty abysmal in recent times.<\/p>\n

They have lost against Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Liverpool this term by an aggregate score of 12-1. <\/p>\n

No wonder Nuno Espirito Santo is demanding improvements<\/a> ahead of that trip to Old Trafford. They could not really play much worse, at least from an attacking perspective, than they did when Arne Slot\u2019s beleaguered champions came to town a few days ago.<\/p>\n

And Mateus Fernandes should have a big role to play<\/a> away to Man United, at both ends of the pitch for that matter. And he at least appears to know what is required if the Hammers are to consign Ruben Amorim to another embarrassing home loss.<\/p>\n

\"MateusPhoto by Kevin Hodgson\/MI News\/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesWest Ham will need to \u2018fight for every ball\u2019 against Manchester United, Mateus Fernandes says<\/p>\n

Mateus Fernandes<\/a> has created the joint-most chances of any West Ham player this season, level with Lucas Paqueta on 14. Considering that Nuno will be without Paqueta tonight<\/a> due to suspension, the Portugal Under-21 captain will have to take the creative burden on his own shoulders.<\/p>\n

Somewhat surprisingly, Fernandes also sits atop the charts with the most tackles won per game this season, an average of 2.2. He clearly appreciates the importance of sticking the boot in and winning second balls, even if the importance of this appears to have been lost on some of his teammates of late.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to look to the next game [with the aim of] winning every one,\u201d Fernandes tells the club\u2019s official website<\/a>. \u201cWe know it\u2019s difficult in the Premier League, but we have the quality in our squad to play and to win many more games.<\/p>\n

Watch everything Nuno had to say before Man United vs West Ham. What needs to change to get a result at Old Trafford? <\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt was a tough match against Liverpool, but we managed to compete well for large spells. Unfortunately we didn\u2019t achieve the result we wanted, but the feeling was that we competed until the last minute.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we played well offensively, but we needed to make better decisions in the final third. The accuracy of our passes, shots and combinations just wasn\u2019t quite there.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what we have to look for on Thursday. We continue to work on the training field through repetition, and by trying to innovate as well. It requires that, because if things aren\u2019t working, we have to change.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Nuno on his plans for Man United <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n

\u201cNow we have a difficult away game at Manchester United. We know it, but we go there to win the game and to try to fight for every ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Fight for every ball\u2019; the four words which will surely underpin a statement West Ham victory, if indeed Nuno\u2019s visitors do follow up that 2-0 win in March with another Old Trafford triumph nine months on.<\/p>\n

Lessons must be learned from that AFC Bournemouth draw <\/p>\n

Fernandes is also keen to avoid a repeat of that Bournemouth collapse. Nuno needed an \u2018incredible\u2019 Alphonse Areola performance<\/a> to save West Ham from snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory on the South Coast.<\/p>\n

In a call which appeared to backfire, Nuno made what Hammers legend Tony Gale called a \u2018strange decision\u2019<\/a> when replacing Fernandes late on. A substitution which served to deny West Ham of any remaining attacking outlets, while seeing them pinned back inside their own penalty area.<\/p>\n

A combined XI of players who represented both West Ham and Man United; Where would this team finish in the Premier League? <\/p>\n

\"West <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to look at the match against Bournemouth,\u201d Fernandes says. \u201cIt was a difficult game. We were winning 2-0, and we tried to defend. They played very well in the second half, but we need to try to play forward when we win the ball.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to be more consistent on our game.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike I said, we need to be ready for this game. In the Premier League every game is so hard, so we need to get points and try to win the games.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nuno Espirito Santo knows what must chance against Ruben Amorim\u2019s side<\/p>\n

Ruben Amorim is backing Nuno<\/a> to get West Ham pushing up the table again. As disappointing and deflating as that Liverpool reverse was, the Hammers still have seven points from the last 12 available.<\/p>\n

Mateus Fernandes will reunite with Amorim<\/a> at Old Trafford too, a year-and-a-half after the former Sporting Lisbon boss reluctantly accepted his \u00a315 million sale to Southampton.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach game is a new story,\u201d Nuno said in his pre-match press conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to improve many things. I think we played good in terms of offensive play. We tried to do the same things but [we needed] a better decision in the final third; the accuracy of the pass, the shot, the combination.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what we expect to happen on Thursday, that we achieve good moments and we finish our actions. It makes a big difference when the players realise that after such a good combination, which is hard, the final action is not there.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is what we have to look for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Join Our Newsletter <\/p>\n

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