Nuno Espírito Santo Tactics At West Ham 2025/2026: Applying His Nottingham Forest Blueprint To The Irons – Tactical Analysis

In a past interview, Nuno Espírito Santo explained his defensive philosophy:

“I think, but maybe I am the only one, that the defensive process can take care of the game.

Why is that?

Because teams wait to defend.

If you create something where you go to defend, to steal the ball where you want, it’s different.”

This quote provides real insight into Nuno’s mindset.

He believes in controlling the game through defensive organisation rather than by keeping the ball.

His teams aim to push opponents into areas where they are comfortable defending, then win the ball back in zones that allow them to transition quickly.

In this Nuno Espírito Santo tactical analysis, we will assess Nuno’s out-of-possession and in-possession principles, examine how sustainable his style of play is, and consider how well this West Ham United team profiles for his coaching methods.

Nuno Espírito Santo Defensive Principles

At Nottingham Forest, Nuno implemented a narrow 4-2-4 pressing structure.

In this system, Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood were tasked with blocking passing lanes into the opposition’s sixes, while the wingers tucked in alongside the front two to prevent access into the 10s.

The two central midfielders then matched up directly with the opposition’s advanced midfielders.