West Ham United supporters have quickly warmed to Paco Jémez. That’s largely to do with a change in fortunes since the Spanish coach arrived, but also from a sense that he genuinely cares.
In mid January, Sport Witness explained the 55-year-old had rejected multiple approaches from clubs with managerial vacancies. However, when Nuno Espirito Santo picked up the phone and asked for help at West Ham, he couldn’t say no. TV work was dumped, and Paco set off for London.
Paco Jémez had played with Nuno at Deportivo La Coruña, and wanted to help save the Hammers.
The Spaniard explained his stance: “There wasn’t much convincing to do. He told me he needed my help, and I thought about experiencing the Premier League from the inside. He values me a lot and lets me do what I think is best.”
West Ham beat Sunderland 3-1 at the weekend, a crucial victory. During the match, Nuno and Paco were seen going at it. The pair had a row over a decision, with the assistant coach clearly there to do more than nod and support.
The subsequent video snapshot went viral, and Paco Jémez has spoken to the Spanish media about it all. In typical style, he explained that’s what he’s there to do.
He has his own strong opinions, and a bit of a temper, and occasionally those two are going to collide. That, however, should be to the benefit of West Ham. The coach is keen to make sure people are aware that’s his only focus right now.
West Ham’s Nuno & Paco show
Marca quote him as saying: “I’m used to things getting blown out of proportion with me, to people taking things too far, and everything being magnified. It’s a football situation where he tells me to do one thing and I tell him that the change wasn’t bad, but that I would do it with someone else. These are football situations that happen on the field, but at no point do I scold him or anything.
“I understand that he’s the boss and he brought me here so I could give my opinion and so that, even if he thinks he might do something else, if I’m convinced of something, I’ll keep telling him. Ultimately, he’s the one who always makes the final decision. I’m going to respect what he says. He didn’t bring me to England to be silent, but to tell him what I think and, above all, to help him.”
West Ham’s manager launching the Nuno & Paco show may well be a relegation-saving masterstroke, and quite entertaining along the way.
