Slaven Speaks - Leicester City

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic says the Club have a strong chance of winning the Capital One Cup this season and will be looking to maintain their impressive away form when they travel to the King Power Stadium.


The Hammers have enjoyed a superb start on their travels picking up memorable wins over Arsenal, Liverpool and Premier League leaders Manchester City last Saturday.


The players were back in for training on Monday before making the short trip to the Midlands and are full of confidence as they prepare for the first major cup competition this season.


Bilic is taking the Capital One Cup seriously and hopes the latest victory over the Premier League leaders will give everyone in the squad the confidence to achieve a similar kind of result when they face Leicester.


Bilic said: “The greatest manager of the Croatian team said that after a big win he would not like to play for a couple of months and to enjoy it.


“But we have the game on Tuesday and it is a big game for us. It is a competition where we know we have a chance.


“You never know what will happen but what I can say is that we will give our best.


“We are approaching the competition with the aim to win it if possible. We are not the favourites but that will be our approach.”


Bilic is hoping to utilise his squad for the game on Tuesday night, but will be unable to choose new signings Michail Antonio and Nikica Jelavic as they are cup-tied.


Mauro Zarate, Andy Carroll and James Collins will all be pushing for a starting place and the Hammers manager reveals he will look to rest some players who have worked so hard in the recent victories over Newcastle and Manchester City.


Bilic added: “We will try to look at other players. It is a shame that Michail and Jelavic cannot play as they have already played in the competition and are cup-tied.


“But we will try to maintain our chances and keep the same quality on the pitch.


“If possible it will be good to rest a couple of players who played against Newcastle and Manchester City on Saturday.”


Youngsters Reece Oxford, Josh Cullen and Elliot Lee could all come into contention, while Cheikhou Kouyate is also hoping to make a return to the squad after missing the City victory with a minor niggle.