Slaven Bilic claims he was urging his players to work hard and avoid complacency after impressing last season.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has told The Telegraph that he was telling his players to earn their victories with hard work as well as all their flicks and tricks.
It’s been a disappointing start to the season for West Ham, as they have won just one of their first five Premier League games, and have imploded defensively in recent weeks.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
West Ham were 2-0 up against Watford at home two weeks ago before conceding four goals to lose 4-2, and then lost 4-2 again last weekend away at West Brom – a game they were losing 4-0 before pulling two goals back.
The pressure has been piled on manager Slaven Bilic despite the Croatian leading West Ham to a seventh-placed finish last season, and the last-gasp 1-0 win over Accrington Stanley in the EFL Cup in midweek did little to inspire confidence.
Ahead of Sunday’s clash with Southampton, West Ham manager Bilic has been speaking to The Telegraph, and was asked whether his players were complacent having over-achieved in the Premier League last season.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
Bilic stated that complacency was the main topic of West Ham’s pre-season meetings, as he was constantly telling his players that they had to continue to earn their success with ‘the basic things’.
West Ham have been accused of being the Harlem Globetrotters of the Premier League, as they have been full of flicks and tricks, with Dimitri Payet’s audacious rabona assist against Watford accused of being showboating.
However, Bilic claims he has been urging his players to do the basics since pre-season, but acknowledges that wins bring you back on track rather than positive meetings.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
“That was the topic we talked about most during the pre-season: ‘we have to earn it. Be confident. But don’t forget how we have to be in this situation. Because of basic things – all those free-kicks, all those rabonas, all those nice combinations are only the cherry on top. But the pie is, like, you have to work for it’,” said Bilic.
“I said until the international break we have three massive games, starting with the [EFL] cup. It’s a good opportunity for us to get out of the situation we are in. You can train good, you can have positive meetings but nothing brings you back on track like wins,” he added.
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