DON’T MESS WITH BILIC
Hammers boss gets exactly what he wants with exciting signings that have brought real belief to a team that lost confidence last season
SLAVEN BILIC means business. The West Ham coach experienced every kind of emotion during last season’s move to the London Stadium, which included his star player Dimitri Payet going on strike and refusing to play. But the Croatian is determined to put a smile back on the faces of Hammers fans. The threat of relegation hung over the club at the start of April, but crucial home wins over Swansea and Tottenham (right) ensured the east Londoners would be playing top-flight football once again at their new home. Bilic knew action was needed to put things right and was given full backing by the board, who have changed their philosophy on transfer dealings and are now focused on short-term success. Manchester City may have spent more than £200million, but the Hammers appear to have pulled off some the best transfer business so far with the additions of Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez. Bilic stressed to the club hierarchy he was not looking for squad players and wanted quality signings who would take the team to the next level. He certainly got his wish. Hart, Zabaleta and Hernandez have Champions League experience and played at the highest level for club and country, while Arnautovic has been Stoke’s best player over the last two seasons. There is excitement in Bilic’s voice when he predicts the team stand every chance of mounting a serious challenge in the top half of the table.
He said: “I said at the end of last season that we don’t need squad players, but we need top players, the players who are going to improve the first eleven.
“I wanted quality players who will make a difference if everyone is fit. It’s a massive achievement – it’s not easy, but we’ve done it. You never know how it’s going to click, but we have done well.
“It’s important we’ve done it early enough in the transfer window. The majority of that’s done, so congratulations to the chairman, to the board. They’ve done brilliantly and people from other clubs have recognised it.”
One of those admirers is Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho. The Hammers are at Old Trafford for their opening game of the new campaign, and Mourinho has nothing but praise for the business they have conducted, even suggesting they are buying to win the Premier League. No pressure on Bilic then. Bilic has no doubt Hart, 30, and Zabaleta will have a major impact. He added: “Joe Hart is England No.1 and it’s a great move, a great statement from the club and good for us. He brings a big-game mentality, is at his prime age and has a point to prove.
“He’s very hungry and a good professional on the pitch, but with his experience and charisma, he is going to be great for us off the pitch as well. We are expecting a lot of things from him.
“Without spending a lot of money we managed to get Joe and Pablo Zabaleta, who are very hungry and motivated. They are two big names. It wasn’t easy to get the players but I’m delighted with the business we have done.”
Bilic has not been afraid to speak his mind during the summer and it is not just on the pitch where he had made significant changes.
He pleaded with joint-chairman David Sullivan and vice-chairman Karren Brady to remain in Europe for pre-season to avoid another injury-plagued campaign.
Former England and Arsenal physio Gary Lewin has been brought in to head up the medical department and Bilic hopes to see a major difference.
“I’ve been here for two years and both the last two pre-seasons were taken up by us having Europa League qualifiers.
“We had to come back early and it wasn’t a proper pre-season. I asked the chairman and Karren Brady and they understood the situation.
“They said, ‘Let’s do it your way’. We’re just concentrating on training and resting. We’ve been to Austria and are going to Germany. I have to thank the board for letting us have this kind of pre-season which is crucial.
“We had 10 surgeries last season, which is incredible and have made changes. We experienced everything last year and that improves the character of the team. I’m expecting a really big season.”