Bilic determined to stop Watford being one-hit wonders
WIGAN V WATFORD 3PM
SLAVEN BILIC has not picked up his Gibson Explorer guitar since joining Watford as he has been too busy sorting out the riff from the smooth.
In his other incarnation, between a distinguished playing career and moving into management, the Hornets’ head coach played in five-piece rock band Rawbau.
Back in the day, their song Vatrino Ludilo (translation: Fiery Madness) became a Croatian football anthem, and Bilic’s stock at Vicarage Road rose in the fiery madness of Watford’s 4-0 derby demolition of Luton last week.
If he can end his team’s inconsistency – they have not won two consecutive games for 18 months – it would be one of his greatest hits. Bilic plans to add fellow West Ham great Julian Dicks, above, with whom he worked as Hammers boss, to his staff.
As for the music, Bilic does not enjoy questions about his guitar hero alter-ego.
“Look, I was never a rock star,” he said. “I play the guitar as a hobby like everybody has a hobby. I played when I was having a break between being a player and a manager.
“Bill Clinton played saxophone but it didn’t mean he couldn’t do his job as President of the United States.
“My hobby is guitar music and it has helped me in my career, but there is less time to do it now.
“I still have the guitar at home in Croatia.To be fair, the demands of being a manager haven’t changed that much because it was always a 24/7 job.”
Bilic was unaware of a camera trained on him for the whole 90 minutes last week as Watford put the Hatters to the sword, kicking every ball and nodding every header.
“You can’t help it – you are what you are,” he said. “You can take a tablet to calm yourself down or drink a Red Bull to lift you up.
“Who are the most excited ones [on the touchline] in the Premier League – Klopp, Conte, Pep? All three of them are not wild, but they are wilder than me because every manager has emotion.
“And if you stay sat down for 90 minutes, it doesn’t mean you have no passion.”
Bilic is aware that Watford’s oscillating form has cost a platoon of head coaches their jobs under owner Gino Pozzo, although hostility towards the players was suspended by their biggest home win against Luton.
Bilic said: “I am confident because I’ve seen us play some really good football since I arrived – not all the time. The difference between really good players and average ones is not necessarily quality unless they add consistency.”
❑WATFORD’S Tom Cleverley, who has been out since August, will not return until next year after an Achilles operation.