Slaven Bilic has hailed his side's teamwork in recent games
Slaven Bilic said he was extremely impressed and encouraged by the hard-work and determination shown by his side in recent games.
The Hammers are now unbeaten in three games, following draws with West Brom, Manchester United and Stoke City.
Despite injuries to key players such as Dimitri Payet, Diafra Sakho, Manuel Lanzini, Victor Moses and Winston Reid, Bilic said his side have coped well so far: “I am very happy that the players who have come in since the injuries have stepped up, they have really stepped up. Their all round play has brought something different to our game.
“We are missing some really key players, especially offensively. Considering that, we did very well. I told the guys before and after Old Trafford that the only we way are going to compensate for that is by working as a team. We are still going to miss big players but the effect will be minimized if we work hard collectively, not as individuals. With teamwork and hardwork, that is exactly what we did.”
Up next for the Hammers is a tough away trip to Swansea City on Sunday 20 December. In their final game before Christmas, Bilic reasserted his desire to win every game they contest.
He continued: “If you ask me before the start of every game I would never take a point, especially when we are at home, but even away also.
“Reflecting on the Stoke game, I cannot be unhappy. The effort was definitely there, I couldn’t ask for more.
“We wanted to win, we always want to win. Sometimes you have to take risks, this is football, it is worth throwing everything you’ve got for three points. Saying that, the team defends as a whole and attacks as a whole, so the eleven on the pitch are only half of it, it is the shape, the mentality that is key.”
The Hammers are now unbeaten in three games, following draws with West Brom, Manchester United and Stoke City.
Despite injuries to key players such as Dimitri Payet, Diafra Sakho, Manuel Lanzini, Victor Moses and Winston Reid, Bilic said his side have coped well so far: “I am very happy that the players who have come in since the injuries have stepped up, they have really stepped up. Their all round play has brought something different to our game.
“We are missing some really key players, especially offensively. Considering that, we did very well. I told the guys before and after Old Trafford that the only we way are going to compensate for that is by working as a team. We are still going to miss big players but the effect will be minimized if we work hard collectively, not as individuals. With teamwork and hardwork, that is exactly what we did.”
Up next for the Hammers is a tough away trip to Swansea City on Sunday 20 December. In their final game before Christmas, Bilic reasserted his desire to win every game they contest.
He continued: “If you ask me before the start of every game I would never take a point, especially when we are at home, but even away also.
“Reflecting on the Stoke game, I cannot be unhappy. The effort was definitely there, I couldn’t ask for more.
“We wanted to win, we always want to win. Sometimes you have to take risks, this is football, it is worth throwing everything you’ve got for three points. Saying that, the team defends as a whole and attacks as a whole, so the eleven on the pitch are only half of it, it is the shape, the mentality that is key.”