Before Graham Potter was sacked by West Ham he fell out with defender Jean-Clair Todibo and it is clear there is no love lost between them as the Frenchman breaks his silence.
In the summer Jean-Clair Todibo vowed a full pre-season would mean West Ham fans finally getting to see the best of him.
Todibo’s debut campaign with the Hammers was hugely underwhelming as he struggled to finish matches and was terribly inconsistent.
The Frenchman struggled so much at times that West Ham were reportedly gutted they had to fork out £32m to sign him permanently as part of their obligation to Nice.
Todibo insisted he would do better this term but the season started abysmally for the Hammers and Graham Potter.
Todibo transformed in Nuno’s turnaround at West Ham
That culminated with Potter being sacked as West Ham’s worst ever permanent manager in the club’s 130-year history.
His disastrous tenure ended with Todibo out of the side after a fallout behind the scenes.
In his final days at the club, Potter called Todibo into his office to demand more effort from him in training.
A leak from sources close to Potter has since claimed Todibo’s response was to turn up late to West Ham training the next day.
Todibo had fallen out with Julen Lopetegui too and things did not look promising for him when Nuno Espirito Santo left him out of his first couple of West Ham squads.
Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images
The former Barcelona man has come back into the starting XI of late, though, and is playing the best football of his West Ham career to date in the team’s recent resurgence under Nuno.
West Ham’s upturn in form and performances have vindicated the decision to axe Potter.
So too have his struggles as interim Sweden boss.
Former Hammers hero Michail Antonio accused Potter of destroying West Ham’s culture recently.
Potter has also been exposed by West Ham favourite Vladimir Coufal in new revelations that have shocked angry fans.
Now Todibo has taunted Potter with a bold claim about Nuno’s West Ham revolution.
Todibo taunts Potter with bold Nuno claim
Todibo has finally started to look like the player the Hammers thought they were signing from Nice last year.
And the 25-year-old puts it all down to new head coach Nuno and the changes he has made from Potter’s hapless reign.
In a clear dig at Potter, Todibo says West Ham have improved in every single way under Nuno.
He also states standards are much higher and that training is better and harder.
Todibo feels that is all being reflected in West Ham’s much-improved performances since Potter was axed for Nuno.
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
But in his biggest swipe at Potter, Todibo says the Hammers would have rolled over and been battered by Bournemouth under their former manager.
“At Bournemouth, we started well. We had a good first half, but the second half was a bit more difficult,” Todibo told West Ham’s website.
“It was tough for us, but I think we managed very well… Maybe two months ago, it could have been a big loss for us, and I hope we’re going to keep going like this, and at some moment soon, we will win those types of games.
“We have improved defensively, and we have improved also offensively. We have taken seven points in our last three games, which is very good for us, and I want us to be positive because it’s the moment for us to be positive.
Todibo: Hammers better in all aspects under Nuno
Todibo says he is enjoying playing at left centre-back under Nuno and credits his intense training, focus on team spirit and higher standards with West Ham’s turnaround.
“There is a lot of energy, a lot of good vibes (under Nuno),” Todibo added.
“We’ve come from the bottom in terms of confidence and even in terms of results. We are doing a lot of good things, which brings confidence. We are training very hard at the moment.
“Everyone understands that we have to give more than one hundred per cent in training and during the game, and all the players are pulling in the same direction, even the guys who come into the games from the substitutes’ bench.”
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