THIS APPOINTMENT COULD DECIDE WEST HAM’S FUTURE
During his spell at West Ham United, former boss Graham Potter often spoke about the absence of a so-called “magic bullet” that one decisive tweak capable of kick-starting a faltering campaign and instantly changing the mood around the club. A single fix, a spark, something that could steady the ship when performances dipped and confidence drained away.
Fast forward to the present, and while Nuno Espírito Santo may not have intentionally been searching for such a solution, West Ham’s defensive revival appears to have arrived in an unexpected form. The January addition of Paco Jémez to Nuno’s backroom staff may not have dominated headlines or stirred transfer-window frenzy, but its impact is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Jémez, a former Spain international centre-back with 21 caps to his name, brings a wealth of experience at the very highest level of the game. His appointment as a first-team coach particularly one with a clear defensive focus has coincided with noticeable improvements in West Ham’s structure, organization , and overall resilience at the back. What once looked fragile and disjointed now appears far more compact and disciplined.
One player who has felt the change most strongly is Konstantinos Mavropanos. The Greek defender, who has struggled for consistent runs in the starting XI across four different West Ham managers, has been quick to highlight the influence Jémez has had since arriving at the club.
“He’s constantly trying to help, especially those of us in the back line,” Mavropanos explained. “There were clear things missing from our performances before sometimes it was the basics. In the first half of the season, some of the core principles of defending just weren’t there. Now, we’re working on those details, both individually and as a unit, so we understand how we should operate together as a team.”
The emphasis on fundamentals has exposed uncomfortable truths. Poor habits had crept into the squad, and without correction, they became routine. Jémez’s arrival has forced a reset.
“We’d picked up bad habits,” Mavropanos admitted. “Now we’re addressing them every single day in training. That repetition makes a huge difference. We’re sharper, more focused, and better prepared going into matches.”
Whether or not Jémez truly represents the “magic bullet” Potter once yearned for is still open to debate. What is clear, however, is that West Ham now look far more cohesive defensively. The spaces between players have tightened, communication has improved, and the back line appears less exposed than it did earlier in the campaign.
That said, progress has not yet delivered perfection. Clean sheets remain frustratingly hard to come by, and today’s trip to Stamford Bridge presents one of the toughest defensive challenges possible. Chelsea away is no forgiving test, particularly for a side still learning new habits and ironing out lingering flaws.
Still, having a proven defensive specialist guiding the team can only strengthen West Ham’s push for stability. If Jémez can continue to refine the unit, elevate individuals like Max Kilman into elite-level defenders, and ultimately help secure Premier League survival, his understated appointment may come to be viewed as a masterstroke.
Timing, as ever, will be everything. But if West Ham stay up and their defence becomes a genuine foundation rather than a weakness, Paco Jémez’s arrival may well be remembered as the moment the season quietly turned.
