Nuno Espirito Santo Frustrated After West Ham's Dramatic Collapse

West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo expressed deep frustration following his side's dramatic 3-2 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Hammers squandered a commanding 2-0 halftime lead, with Chelsea's dramatic comeback culminating in an injury-time winner that left the Portuguese boss visibly shaken.

From Dominance to Despair: West Ham's Second-Half Collapse

West Ham looked in complete control during the first 45 minutes, with goals from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville putting them two goals ahead. "We were really good in the first half. When you score two goals away from home, it should be your game," Nuno lamented after the match. The Hammers combined effectively and defended well, creating beautiful opportunities that resulted in their impressive first-half display.

Tactical Breakdown After Chelsea's First Goal

According to Nuno, the match's turning point came when Joao Pedro pulled one back for Chelsea. "After that we tried to survive and couldn't," the manager admitted. Following Pedro's goal, West Ham switched to a back five, but their wide areas became vulnerable as wingers lost control over Chelsea's marauding full-backs, leaving defenders Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka exposed.

Nuno's Season of Embarrassment and Apologies

This latest collapse adds to a troubling pattern for Nuno at West Ham. Earlier in January, the Portuguese manager described his team's 3-0 defeat at Wolves as "the worst of my career." After that embarrassing loss to his former club, Nuno apologized to fans, stating: "I have to apologise to the fans. It was embarrassing. I don't recall one day that I felt so bad in a football pitch."

Defensive Failures Cost West Ham Points

The West Ham boss was particularly critical of his team's inability to defend set pieces and crosses. "We should have done much better to defend our own box. When they cross, we have to defend it, and we didn't," Nuno stated. Chelsea dominated the second half with 71% possession and registered an impressive 2.70 xG compared to West Ham's 1.12 expected goals.

Growing Pressure on Nuno's Future

Appointed only in September following Graham Potter's brief tenure, Nuno now finds himself under mounting pressure. The Hammers have gone nine games without a win and sit perilously in 18th place, four points from safety. When asked about his future, Nuno deflected: "It's not about my future, it's about how can we get out of this situation, how can we improve and get the results that make us climb the table."