Slaven Bilic says he is desperate to lift West Ham United off the bottom of the Premier League at the earliest possible opportunity.
The Hammers sit at the foot of the table after losing their opening two matches at Manchester United and Southampton, but know victory at Newcastle United on Saturday will see them rise above the Magpies.
“You don’t want to be bottom of the league, even before the first game, so we need to change that first letter from W!” he joked.
“It’s never good to be bottom of the league, so I would like to change it and not to be that way, but to be fair, although I am very disappointed, we’re going to take a lot of positives with the way we played the game.”
One major positive was the performance and two goals scored by Chicharito at St Mary’s Stadium, where the Mexican’s outstanding reactions and finishing so nearly secured a heroic point for his new team.
It’s almost impossible to mark Chicharito because he doesn’t only have one movement and you can lose him
Slaven Bilic
“We are very pleased that he is our player,” Bilic confirmed. “He was our target and it was a long shot, but we never gave up on him and it was always possible.
“We had to fight with a few other clubs, of course, but we were delighted when we did it because we expected and knew what we were getting and he showed on Saturday what he is all about. Plus, the work he did when we were down to ten and to play the whole second half in left midfield when he was needed [was outstanding].
“He knows we liked him because we wanted to get him when he went from Manchester United to Leverkusen [in 2015]. We spoke then and I called him on the phone. He opted for Leverkusen and he called and said ‘Thank you gaffer but I’m going to Leverkusen but maybe we’ll speak again’.
“After two years we spoke again so we didn’t start from zero. I know it helped him to choose us.”
So, after two examples of why he has played for some of the world’s biggest clubs, Bilic was asked to list the qualities that make Chicharito such a predator in the opposition penalty area?
“It’s almost impossible to mark him because he doesn’t only have one movement and you can lose him,” he observed. “Even then, you don’t have to lose him because he is so sharp over a few yards that gives him the advantage.
“He has a mixture. Most players who are quick don’t have those movements, or the other way around, but he has both, and that’s why that combination puts defenders in a tough situation when the cross comes in.”
Another talented new boy, Marko Arnautovic, was sent-off after catching Southampton defender Jack Stephens with his arm.
Bilic refused to be drawn on the incident, but does expect the Austrian to make up for his aberration when he returns from suspension.
“I am not going to talk about the red card or the penalties, but I can say it was very hard for us and a big, massive blow for the team to be let down and to play with ten men for the majority of the game, for such a long, long period,” he said.
“Of course [I expect him to make up for this] because he is a very talented player and he knows and everybody knows why we got him.”
We’re still not over the transfer window and we’re in a good position budget-wise because we got a few, but we also sold a few players
Slaven Bilic
Finally, Bilic was asked if the Hammers expect to bring in any more new faces before the transfer window closes. He replied in the affirmative.
“We’re still not over the transfer window and we’re in a good position budget-wise because we got a few, but we also sold a few players,” he explained.
“We have enough centre-backs in our team if they stay fit. You can’t have eight players in one situation. We have one position we want to fill unless if someone goes and we have to fill in.”