Slaven Bilic praises West Ham United's Medical and Sports Science department for the hard work they have put in this season
Slaven Bilic has paid tribute to the hard work carried out by his backroom staff to provide him with a fit and strong squad for the run-in.
The West Ham United manager had a full selection to pick from for Wednesday’s 3-1 Barclays Premier League win over Watford.
With four games to go and a top-six finish to fight for, Bilic has publicly thanked his staff for their commitment to the cause – particularly during a tough Christmas period, when a number of concurrent injuries and suspensions left the Hammers’ resources stretched.
At certain times, West Ham were without playmakers Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini, strikers Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho and defenders James Collins and James Tomkins and loanee Carl Jenkinson.
However, the Hammers battled through those absences to remain unbeaten from 29 November until 16 January. In all, West Ham have lost just nine of 47 matches in all competitions under the Croatian.
With the coaching staff, fitness coach Miljenko Rak, head of medical and sports science Stijn Vandenbroucke and their backroom colleagues working hard to keep players fit and well, Bilic is now reaping the benefit of their planning and methods.
“Credit goes to the Medical team, the Sports Science team and the Fitness team and to the whole staff, of course,” said the manager, whose side sit sixth in the table ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Bromwich Albion.
“There was only one period in late October, November and December – a long one – but there was only one game against Liverpool when we were really restricted and very thin.
“The guys from the Medical, Sports Science and all that didn’t stop and we didn’t lose our heads and now and over the last five or six games we are really in great shape and can cater for all eventualities.
“It’s great for us, so I would like to say a big ‘Thanks’ to them because they have done a great job.”
The West Ham United manager had a full selection to pick from for Wednesday’s 3-1 Barclays Premier League win over Watford.
With four games to go and a top-six finish to fight for, Bilic has publicly thanked his staff for their commitment to the cause – particularly during a tough Christmas period, when a number of concurrent injuries and suspensions left the Hammers’ resources stretched.
At certain times, West Ham were without playmakers Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini, strikers Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho and defenders James Collins and James Tomkins and loanee Carl Jenkinson.
However, the Hammers battled through those absences to remain unbeaten from 29 November until 16 January. In all, West Ham have lost just nine of 47 matches in all competitions under the Croatian.
With the coaching staff, fitness coach Miljenko Rak, head of medical and sports science Stijn Vandenbroucke and their backroom colleagues working hard to keep players fit and well, Bilic is now reaping the benefit of their planning and methods.
“Credit goes to the Medical team, the Sports Science team and the Fitness team and to the whole staff, of course,” said the manager, whose side sit sixth in the table ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Bromwich Albion.
“There was only one period in late October, November and December – a long one – but there was only one game against Liverpool when we were really restricted and very thin.
“The guys from the Medical, Sports Science and all that didn’t stop and we didn’t lose our heads and now and over the last five or six games we are really in great shape and can cater for all eventualities.
“It’s great for us, so I would like to say a big ‘Thanks’ to them because they have done a great job.”