That was a self-wounding Decision!
West Ham have spent almost the entire season in the lower half of the table, stuck around the relegation zone. The team kept working, trying everything just to survive. But after the arrival of Nuno Espírito Santo, nothing was easy. They were progressing gradually from match to match. The matches looked chaotic and unstructured. They were losing to direct rivals, even though they managed a decent FA Cup result and respective run.
Nobody wanted Axel Disasi. He had every chance to leave Chelsea F.C., but he couldn’t agree terms with any club. Then West Ham United F.C. stepped in and signed him on loan.
He hadn’t played for a long period, and the moment he stepped onto the pitch, West Ham’s defence became vulnerable with him. The team lost confidence at the back and had a tough blow against Liverpool, who are weak, but they scored 5 times against West Ham.
Nuno Espírito Santo is the biggest problem West Ham United F.C. have. But he is the one leading the team in this relegation survival battle.
Nuno Espírito Santo is a key to West Ham’s survival chances.
West Ham United F.C. have overcome many huge problems this season, but Axel Disasi could be fatal for their relegation battle chances.
If Santo does not take him out, it will be too late. West Ham will be relegated.
When you are making a transfer, you look for a player who can straighten the lines, not some former Chelsea F.C. player who hasn’t played football for years. They signed the name not proven player.
With Nuno Espírito Santo in charge, it’s hard to see them recovering from this. He does not give away any confidence, and he is not a stable and good manager.
Disasi background
Loan transfer from Chelsea to West Ham.
There were a couple of attacking signings, but at the end of the January window West Ham decided to strengthen the defence. The choice fell on Axel Disasi, a Chelsea F.C. defender who had barely played for months.
After being pushed out of the squad by Enzo Maresca, the former AS Monaco centre-back arrived as a supposed solution for West Ham’s defensive problems.
But Disasi is a player who hasn’t had stability for a long time. He failed to secure himself properly at Chelsea, and even before that, his situation wasn’t fully settled. Last season, once it became clear he wasn’t in the plans at Chelsea, he did not negotiate with several clubs and ended up on loan at Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa’s strategy with Axel Disasi- Loan winter of 2025
At that time, Aston Villa were bringing in several loan players and established stars who were no longer at their peak. Axel Disasi arrived as a former Chelsea player, while the club also secured Marcus Rashford from Manchester United and Marco Asensio.
This season, players such as Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho have also been transferred in with similar moves. This was Aston Villa’s transfer strategy at the time. They were recruiting well-known names who attract attention due to their reputation. But none proved right.
However, this approach has not delivered any competitive progress. While these are all big names in football, and they generate media interest, the sporting return has not been proven as the right one. This strategy sank and collapsed in front of our eyes.
West Ham was prospering gradually and was about to catch Nottingham Forrest and was on minus two points.
Then, Santo signed and introduced Axel Diasi as a defender, and he was taken there as a great acquisition with great expectations.
West Ham knew the situation was delicate. They were slowly closing the gap and came within two points of Nottingham Forest F.C., a position that guarantees survival. And then Disasi started games — and that’s where things collapsed.
A player who hasn’t played serious football consistently cannot suddenly become the defensive leader in a relegation battle. With him in the lineup, West Ham’s defence became extremely vulnerable. They conceded five goals against Liverpool F.C., and Liverpool is not good at the moment. His presence affected results, confidence, positioning — everything.
Nuno Spirto Santo is guilty of this.
So the responsibility ultimately falls on Nuno Espírito Santo. It was reasonable to explore the defensive market and look to sign a quality player, but his decision to bring in Axel Disasi has not strengthened the team. Instead, it has created confusion and defensive instability that could prove fatal. Completely unnecessary!
Bringing in a player who hasn’t been competing at a high level for months, and who clearly isn’t ready for the intensity of the Premier League, backfired badly. Instead of moving ahead of Nottingham Forest, and they were close to achieve than, West Ham slipped deeper into the abyss, and their chances now look much smaller compared to months ago.
The point!
Santo is a serious issue. His methods look unconvincing, his authority questionable, and his tactical variations aren’t working.
West Ham had a solid winter budget, something good that could raise their chances and improve the team, but it was used in the wrong direction against them. This team needs a strong, decisive manager built for a relegation fight — not someone who does not have character and has methods that are not working. He is not the right authority and does not inspires confidence.
And this has already been an extremely difficult campaign for the Hammers, now it looks like a fatal one.
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