Slaven Bilic sat down with the media on Thursday afternoon at the London Stadium ahead of Friday’s Premier League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion.
The West Ham United manager was asked for his thoughts on counter-part Chris Hughton, the Hammers’ disciplinary record and a possible move into the top ten.
Bilic also talked about goalkeeper Adrian and his side’s home form…
Bold Brighton
Brighton secured promotion to the Premier League last season and Bilic has been impressed with what he’s seen so far from the Seagulls.
Although the manager described Brighton as a ‘confident team’, Bilic insists he is only focusing on his own side ahead of the fixture.
“They also made a slow start and then they improved,” Bilic said: “I’ve watched their games, home and away, and I see a very confident team. They got that confidence last season when they were winning most of their games. They have confidence and they also brought some good players from Holland and Germany.
“It’s going to be a very tough game. I respect them but we are concentrating on us. We have one defeat in six. We are at home and we’ve improved our home form a lot since we’ve moved here. What we want is a good performance and three points.”
The manager was also very complimentary of Chris Hughton, who has been in charge of Brighton since 2014.
“He is underrated. I watched their games and I’m impressed with Brighton. I expected them, at least in the first half of the season, like most promoted teams they have good memories from last season and that positive arrogance. They play like that.
“Okay, there is a difference between their home and away records, but I watched them and they play nice football so of course Chris has done a great job there.
Adrian is ‘a great professional’
Bilic has taken the opportunity to praise Spanish goalkeeper Adrian for his professionalism.
The shot-stopper was linked with an exit from West Ham in the media this week, with Joe Hart the first choice in the Premier League, but Bilic seemed delighted Adrian is so eager to play.
“If I was a player on the bench and wasn’t playing I wouldn’t expect to say I was happy to not be playing,” he said. “It’s a positive thing that he wants to play.”
“All the players want to play and be regular. That’s why they are top sportsmen. We need a good squad though and we need a second good goalkeeper. Adrian is a great professional and is acting and behaving in the way I wanted. I’ve spoken a few times with him about it and he’s very good in training. He’s working hard to get his chance.”
No discipline issues
The manager was questioned on his side’s disciplinary record after Andy Carroll became the second West Ham player to be shown a red card this season.
Bilic told the gathered media that he did not believe any of these sending offs were down to discipline issues, highlighting a number of them had been rescinded after.
He said: “None of these red cards were down to typical lack of discipline. Nobody head-butted anyone. A few of those red cards were appealed and they were ruled out. Three or four were big mistakes. I don’t remember one of them where I would connect it with lack of discipline on the pitch and letting the team down.
“On the other hand, yes we’ve had 12 red cards in the space of two and a half seasons.”
The boss did admit however that the sending-offs this season were a concern due to both Carroll and Marko Arnautovic getting dismissed in the first half.
"A red card is a red card but it’s a big difference if it happens in added time or like it happens like it did to Arnautovic and Carroll,” he added. “We did amazing in both of those games because normally it’s one-sided after that happens.
“I spoke to both and it’s unacceptable. It’s a big blow for the team, especially for that game and also for the next game.”
‘We want to push into the top ten’
A victory over Brighton on Friday evening would push the Irons into the top ten of the Premier League for the first time this campaign.
Bilic admits that he and his side had aspirations of being in the top ten earlier in the season but they are now ready to claim that spot with a win in the next match.
He said: “We hoped to be in the top ten straight away but it didn’t happen for various reasons. We have a feeling when we are analysing the games now that we’ve improved a lot.
“We’ve started to get points and it would be really good and crucial to win tomorrow and to move up the table.”
‘Good memories make the London Stadium home’
Bilic also commented on a recent improvement in home form for the Hammers, admitting that he and his players now consider the London Stadium their home ground.
The manager puts that feeling down to the creation of happy experiences for the squad and the fans in the past 12 months.
He added: “From day one we’ve been amazed with the new Stadium but we’ve needed some time to start calling it home. Now when I hear the players, and it happens to me also, now we say we can’t wait to play at home.
“To make someone home you need good memories. You need time to make those memories and to experience those positive things. We’ve had a few recently and yes, it’s home now.”