Slaven Bilic is a man under pressure at struggling West Ham United but Liverpool and Real Madrid legend Steve McManaman is having none of it.
The Hammers were thrashed 5-0 in the FA Cup by Manchester City at the London Stadium last time out.
The humiliating defeat follows an embarrassing early exit from the Europa League to Romanian minnows Astra during qualifying, a 4-1 defeat in the quarter-final of the EFL Cup to Manchester United and a torrid season in the Premier League which has Bilic’s side sitting 13th in the table at the halfway stage.
Most supporters point the finger of blame at broken promises from the West Ham board over transfer spending following the big move to the Olympic Stadium.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic looks dejected
But some are beginning to turn on the Croatian, who last term led the East Londoners to their best points tally – and first positive goal difference – since 1986.
Bilic is second favourite to be the next Premier League manager to lose his job but former Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid midfielder Steve McManaman launched an impassioned defence of the Hammers boss on BT Sport.
“You can’t lose 5-0 at home, not West Ham, not with their fans,” McManaman said on BT Sport.
“I hope he (Bilic) doesn’t (get sacked), we keep hearing how last year the players played really well – the players played really well – now the players are playing really bad so you can’t necessarily blame Slaven Bilic can you.
BT Sports Pundit Steve McManaman
“I mean of course he’s got a job and he has to go out and motivate them, but you play for managers you didn’t like, you play for managers that you did like but as soon as you crossed the line you went out and you did your own job, it’s up to you, it’s up to your own personal pride.
“It’s not up to the manager to motivate you, you’re playing Manchester City in the cup, in front of 50,000 of your home fans, you don’t need the manager you want to go out and show that ‘I’m better than £50 million Raheem Sterling, I’m better than £50 million Aguero’, you want to show, you battle.
“And as far as I’m concerned that’s got nothing to do with Slaven Bilic, nothing to do with him. On one hand you can’t say ‘Oh Payet’s the best player in the world’ and then the next minute he’s terrible.”
Reports are circulating this week that Bilic has been given two games to save his job – as reported by The Sun – with West Ham set to play fellow strugglers Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough next.
Reports claim co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold along with vice-chairman Karren Brady are losing patience with the way the side have struggled compared to last season with the same players available.
They are worried Bilic has lost the ability to motivate his squad and Sullivan’s comments last year about holding off on offering the manager a new deal to make sure ‘he is not a one-season wonder’ are starting to look prophetic.
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