West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has said are playing each game like a ‘cup final’ ahead of this weekend’s crunch match against Swansea City.
The Hammers have had a poor start to the Premier League season having lost four of their six top flight games so far, leading to speculation that Bilic could become the league’s second managerial casualty of the season following the sacking of Frank De Boer from Crystal Palace earlier in the month.
With reports of West Ham eyeing up recently sacked Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti and former Dortmund man Thomas Tuchel, the pressure is on Bilic to deliver this weekend, however the Croatian has insisted it is nothing he isn’t used to.
“It’s like we are playing a cup final every week. It’s not like a league game.” said Bilic speaking in the Daily Mail.
“But at least we got used to that – or I got used to that – and we are reacting. Hopefully we will do the same on Saturday.”
The Hammers have been boosted by the return of stars Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio, both who have been named in the squad for the clash against Swansea, and Bilic believes the return of both players will be a huge boost to his side.
“We have now most of the players back and we look good, and we are in the driving seat. We are going to try to win the game and start another good run of games.” he said.
“When our backs are to the wall we are all in this together, and we have always done it. This is the reason why I am optimistic.
“I am thinking only about Swansea, but we have that opportunity now to get out of this.”
