Aaron a Bilic backer
® AARON CRESSWELL has leapt to the defence of under-fire West Ham manager Slaven Bilic.
Bilic is under pressure after losing three games on the bounce and his side are nine points above the drop zone.
Starsport understand Bilic’s position is not under immediate threat, but West Ham’s owners have demanded he turns things around quickly.
Full-back Cresswell said: “If you ask any of the players, they would say the same, we are fully behind him and fully supportive of him.
“Hopefully we can turn it around and take that pressure off everyone. He is positive and passionate about his job.
Friction
“He is bubbly around the place and wants to stay in a positive mood and, as players, that’s what we want.”
There has been friction between Bilic and West Ham’s owners for months.
Some of his transfer decisions have been questioned, as well as the intensity of his training sessions.
Bilic pushed hardest to sign Simone Zaza and Gokhan Tore last summer only to see both players flop. But it is the club’s slump which has given West Ham most concern.
Co-chairman David Sullivan apologised to fans following this month’s 3-2 home defeat to Leicester. Cresswell said: “It is not going right at the minute. We know we haven’t been good enough.”
The Hammers, without a win in five games, are at relegation-threatened Hull on Saturday.