West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic is harbouring the blame for the club’s poor start to the new season and has stated that there is a fine line over criticising his players.
The Hammers are starring down the barrel after losing four of their opening five Premier League games and the London club were also unceremoniously dumped out of the Europa League.
The last two defeats, both 4-2 to Watford and West Brom, have been particularly gruelling for the club’s supporters to take.
Bilic has stated that he deserves to be criticised after the underwhelming start to the new season and that the last thing he wants is for some of his players to lose any remaining confidence.
“You have to find the line. You have to find the balance between hard criticism. Starting with me,” The Daily Star quote the Croat as saying.
“We deserve it. We’re in this situation. We made it. Me, my staff, the players.
“Okay, of course there has to be criticism but I know for a fact if the player lose confidence then it’s gone.
“The worst thing that can happen in football is to lose confidence. Our confidence is harmed a bit because of the results and the position we are in. But you can’t lose it.
“If you lose your confidence as an individual and as a team then you’ve got no chance. It’s got to be a balance. You have to criticise because it’s not good. You have to point fingers.
“But there has to be a mix between the two of them. It’s hard. But that’s the nature of the job. You have to find the balance.”
West Ham take on Accrington Stanley in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night before facing Southampton at the weekend, with two victories having the power to get the club’s campaign well and truly back on track.
