Bilic will be hoping his West Ham side can improve on a poor start to the season.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has written in his London Evening Standard column that he was trying to strike a balance between work and rest for the players who remained at the club during the international break.
Bilic said it was a way of trying to find a way out of a sticky run of form the Hammers have found themselves in. They currently sit third from bottom having picked up just four points from their opening seven games, which has seen them concede 17 league goals – the most in the division.
He told the Evening Standard: “We have trained hard because we felt that was what was needed. I have also taken the opportunity to talk individually to a few of the squad and told those players what was expected of them and why that required some hard training.
West Ham players look dejected after Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse scored their third goal
“I want to make it clear it was in no way a punishment but just what we needed to do at this time. Ideally, you would have probably given them one more day off so it is no big deal.
“I just felt that this was a moment when we needed total mobilisation and that finding the right balance between hard work and rest was the best way — the only way to get out of this situation.”
The Hammers stopped the rot to a degree prior to the international break as a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough ended a four match losing run.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
The next two games are big tests but very different ones. Tomorrow evening they travel to Selhurst Park to take on a Crystal Palace side that appears to have found a bit of form before they host a Sunderland side that is currently bottom of the Premier League.
In the next couple of games, Bilic will hope to see his work on the training ground pay off with points on the board, and he will hope that his players who have been away with on international duty will be able to return to the club in good spirits, and find some good form.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic and Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
