Slaven Speaks - Leicester City

Slaven Bilic says his team will need no added motivation when they head to Barclays Premier League leaders Leicester City on Sunday
Slaven Bilic says his team will need no added motivation when they head to Barclays Premier League leaders Leicester City on Sunday.

The Hammers were left deflated following Wednesday’s Emirates FA Cup sixth-round replay defeat by Manchester United in midweek, but have to pick themselves up immediately for what is the toughest assignment in English football at present.

However, Bilic is confident his players will have shaken off their disappointment and will be revved up to continue their own challenge for a top-six finish and European qualification.

“It was a huge disappointment because we wanted to go to Wembley and then go on and win the Cup,” said the manager. “But we want to finish high and we are motivated to do that in our final six games, starting at Leicester on Sunday.

“We need points to finish high in the table. Do we need to win on Sunday to qualify for the Champions League? Well, we know we need points if we are to finish high.”

Bilic confirmed that Winston Reid will be fit to face the Foxes after missing the midweek defeat with tight muscles, while Sam Byram will be available after being cup-tied.

Whoever he picks, the manager knows his players must be on their game to prevent Leicester playing to their many strengths – namely counter-attacking, releasing Jamie Vardy into space in behind the defence, allowing Riyad Mahrez to isolate and run at his man and set pieces.

“It’s hard to play them because obviously they are winning games 1-0 or whatever. They are very patient and their transition is unbelievable, offensively or defensively.

“They are not a one-dimensional team. OK, people are saying they catch you on the break and all that, but they have Vardy who didn’t stop sprinting from the first game and that’s amazing.

“They also have good crossing, people in midfield who can take the ball from you like Kante or Drinkwater, but they can also travel with the ball, pass the ball and shoot. Not to mention Mahrez on the right who can beat three or four players and do something special, so they are very versatile.

“They are playing simple football, but they have players who are capable of counter-attacking, beating three or four players in a tight space, and they are great on set pieces. They are very hard to beat.

“Every manager says they have to stop them counter-attacking or Vardy going into spaces, but they are doing that week-in, week-out.”
We need points to finish high in the table. Do we need to win on Sunday to qualify for the Champions League? Well, we know we need points if we are to finish high
As one of only two clubs to have beaten West Ham on home turf in the Boleyn Ground, 2-1 back in August, did Bilic expect Leicester to go on and challenge for the title?

“I wouldn’t say I thought they would be in this position – nobody would have said that at that time – but what was obvious after their first two games, I said to myself, my staff and Claudio Ranieri that they had a team which was going to be extremely hard to beat, no matter who they played against.

“I didn’t know they were going to be big-time favourites to win the league in this moment.”
Bilic had warm words for Dimitri Payet following his nomination for the PFA Player of the Year award, pointing to the fact that he will be among a number of candidates on the pitch on Sunday.

“It’s a great thing for him and it’s great for the Club, because it proves that we’re playing well and having a good season. He made, as I have said so many times and everybody agrees, a great impact not only for West Ham but for the league. He deserves it.

“I think he’s there for a reason and nobody was surprised that he was nominated for the Player of the Year award. Hopefully he’s going to win it, but if not him, it has to be connected with something your club has achieved and done, so if Leicester win the league it should probably be Vardy.

“If, for some reason, they don’t win it and Spurs win the league, it should be Harry Kane because he will probably score more goals. It has to be a little bit connected with your club’s achievements.”