Slaven Bilic previews what promises to be an emotional and vitally important Final Game at the Boleyn Ground
Slaven Bilic says West Ham United can channel the emotions of the Final Game at the Boleyn Ground to beat Manchester United on Tuesday night.
The Hammers will bid farewell to their home of 112 years with the visit of the biggest club in the country, with a raucous atmosphere and a fair few tears sure to affect those of a Claret and Blue persuasion.
Bilic knows that feeling will get to his players, but is sure they will rise to the occasion, rather than allow it to affect their performance.
Slaven, how are you feeling a day ahead of the Final Game at the Boleyn Ground?
“It’s a big game for a couple of reasons and one of them is that this is the last game ever at Upton Park. Then, if you add to that it’s a very important game for us and for Manchester United, as both teams need to win the game, it makes it mega-big!
“It will be a game of emotions and you can’t stop it. It’s impossible to tell the players, the staff and spectators that it’s a normal game, but it’s not a normal game. It’s a special one and a once-in-a-lifetime kind of game.
“It’s going to be emotional but we have to channel those emotions to be our motivator and our detonator in order to win.”
So, your job is to make the players perform as they would in a ‘normal’ game?
“We already spoke about this game and everything but we’re not going to try to make them think about this game only as a football game, because that’s impossible.
“There’s nothing wrong with being emotional, as long as you channel it in a way that you are positive. I think we’re going to manage to do it on Tuesday night.”
Personally, are you feeling proud that you will be the final manager to lead West Ham United out at the Boleyn Ground?
“I am a bit proud. I knew this would happen when I came at the start of the season on paper, but now it has come it is special for me, and also a special time for the Club.
“I played for West Ham and now I’m the manager of West Ham, so for me it is mixed emotions like it is for the players and the fans. One part of me is happy we are moving forward with more capacity and everything, but another part of me will miss this special kind of stadium. It’s like a home.
“No matter where you move, even if it is to a fancier house or apartment, still your favourite home is your first.”
It is fitting that Manchester United will pose the opposition on Tuesday evening?
“Yes, it is fitting. Since we found out we would play them in the Final Game, it couldn’t be bigger. It would be big against any team, but being against Manchester United is like it has a cherry on top!
“Now, after this past weekend, both clubs need the points to have a good chance to get their targets. It’s unbelievably important, so it really is a one-off.
“It’s going to be impossible to wipe out the emotions and all that, but we have to channel them and limit the negative part of those emotions. They can be very positive for us, because they will make us be more on our toes than usual, and be on the front foot from the start.
“We must make sure we’re not over-emotional or over-motivated and I am sure we are going to do it.”
The Hammers will bid farewell to their home of 112 years with the visit of the biggest club in the country, with a raucous atmosphere and a fair few tears sure to affect those of a Claret and Blue persuasion.
Bilic knows that feeling will get to his players, but is sure they will rise to the occasion, rather than allow it to affect their performance.
Slaven, how are you feeling a day ahead of the Final Game at the Boleyn Ground?
“It’s a big game for a couple of reasons and one of them is that this is the last game ever at Upton Park. Then, if you add to that it’s a very important game for us and for Manchester United, as both teams need to win the game, it makes it mega-big!
“It will be a game of emotions and you can’t stop it. It’s impossible to tell the players, the staff and spectators that it’s a normal game, but it’s not a normal game. It’s a special one and a once-in-a-lifetime kind of game.
“It’s going to be emotional but we have to channel those emotions to be our motivator and our detonator in order to win.”
So, your job is to make the players perform as they would in a ‘normal’ game?
“We already spoke about this game and everything but we’re not going to try to make them think about this game only as a football game, because that’s impossible.
“There’s nothing wrong with being emotional, as long as you channel it in a way that you are positive. I think we’re going to manage to do it on Tuesday night.”
Personally, are you feeling proud that you will be the final manager to lead West Ham United out at the Boleyn Ground?
“I am a bit proud. I knew this would happen when I came at the start of the season on paper, but now it has come it is special for me, and also a special time for the Club.
“I played for West Ham and now I’m the manager of West Ham, so for me it is mixed emotions like it is for the players and the fans. One part of me is happy we are moving forward with more capacity and everything, but another part of me will miss this special kind of stadium. It’s like a home.
“No matter where you move, even if it is to a fancier house or apartment, still your favourite home is your first.”
It is fitting that Manchester United will pose the opposition on Tuesday evening?
“Yes, it is fitting. Since we found out we would play them in the Final Game, it couldn’t be bigger. It would be big against any team, but being against Manchester United is like it has a cherry on top!
“Now, after this past weekend, both clubs need the points to have a good chance to get their targets. It’s unbelievably important, so it really is a one-off.
“It’s going to be impossible to wipe out the emotions and all that, but we have to channel them and limit the negative part of those emotions. They can be very positive for us, because they will make us be more on our toes than usual, and be on the front foot from the start.
“We must make sure we’re not over-emotional or over-motivated and I am sure we are going to do it.”