Bilic eyes Prem prize as boss sets top-flight goal

PROMOTION is the only goal for West Brom manager Slaven Bilic, who says top-flight football is in the club’s DNA.

Bilic launches his tenure at Nottingham Forest, where Albion also played their first away match last season.

Despite the loss of several high-profile players, the Baggies are among the favourites for promotion, so the Croatian knows exactly what is expected of him.

“That’s our aim, it’s in West Brom’s DNA,” the 50-year-old said. “It’s a club that wants to be in the Premier League so that definitely has to be the challenge, but you could say the same for at least 10 other clubs – a minimum of 10 in the Championship. They also have great history or ambitions or the money to challenge for that.”

Bilic is enthusiastic about Albion’s promotion chances, but would be even more confident if he could strengthen his squad in the final days of the transfer window.

“It would be a shame not to add a few players to this quality squad that we have,” he said.

“Then we would be in a position where, if other things click, to really challenge for promotion.

“It is not the Premier League that is my challenge, my challenge is to do well in the Championship. It is this league that makes me excited before the start of the season, not the idea of the Premier League; of course we would love it because that would mean we’ve done a good job.

“The guys who started pre-season I’m extremely happy with, with their work-rate, their motivation, with the standard of the training, both physically and technically. It all gives me not just hope but also optimism that we’re going to play some good football.”

Bilic has never previously managed outside a top division, though his knowledge of the Championship, ‘the pure essence of football’, should stand him in good stead.

“When I was in the Premier League with West Ham we used to watch it on a Friday night,” he said. “All the big countries have strong second leagues. But this is definitely the second league that is being watched across Europe and probably the world.”