Slaven Bilic: Frank de Boer's sacking was on my mind before West Ham win
Last updated on .From the section Football
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic said Frank de Boer's sacking as Crystal Palace manager was on his mind prior to Monday's 2-0 win against Huddersfield.
Bilic had been under pressure following three defeats from West Ham's first three Premier League games of the season.
Palace dismissed De Boer on Monday after they lost to Burnley on Sunday - their fourth successive loss.
"Was De Boer's sacking on my mind? It was. I ain't going to lie," said Bilic.
"But I'm 49, I've been in football since I was 18, so I know.
"To be fair, I came into the zone where I didn't care about that - not in a negative way. I care about the team - but I saw them really focused.
Huddersfield, who were promoted to the Premier League last season, arrived at London Stadium unbeaten and as the only top-flight side yet to concede a goal.
However, they fell behind in the second half when Pedro Obiang's shot took a big deflection off defender Mathias Jorgensen to loop into the back of the net.
Substitute Andre Ayew then stabbed in a quick second to move West Ham off the bottom of the table.
"It was a top performance, not in the sense of beautiful football, but in determination and in executing the game plan," Bilic added.
Monday's game was the Hammers' first at home this term after playing their first three fixtures away because of the London Stadium hosting the World Athletics Championships.
West Ham moved to the ground at the start of last season but struggled to adapt to their new surroundings, losing eight Premier League games there.
But Bilic believes performances gradually improved and says it is now starting to feel like home.
"I said last year that our performances in the second half of the season, apart from a couple of games, improved," said the Croat.
"We have played some really good games here. It will never be Upton Park of course but it is becoming our home more and more."
Pressure eased on Bilic?
BBC Radio 5 live pundit Jermaine Jenas:
It was all about getting the job done for Slaven Bilic, his team and the fans. The supporters have watched better performances. You could feel the tension on the pitch. Fair play to West Ham because there was a lot of pressure on them today.
If you're a fan watching that from West Ham week in, week out, it would be worrying. But Bilic could say [midfielder] Manuel Lanzini wasn't playing and other ball players. He would say he had one way to play.
If this was how he was moving forward, his job would still be at risk.
Comments
Join the conversation
That said his sacking was obviously senseless, it's literally impossible to do anything in four games. Great irony that Palace were talking about evolution and now they're appointing the games oldest dinosaur in Hodgson.
They all get £millions when they're sacked, and then just move on to the next club.
And when they get the sack again, and again, they get paid lots by the BBC as a pundit telling other managers how to succeed!
A mad world indeed
We were terrible most of last season, but won a couple at the end & some how finish 11th
Sales of players almost completely balance out purchases.
The Daves have yet to follow through on any of the London Stadium revenue promises.
That said, the injury situation at West Ham is a massive issue and Bilic must take some responsibility for that.
We're rewarding failure - and how!
We're essentially a bunch of guys earning 20/30/40k a year (some more, some less) - and we're pooling our money to pay the WEEKLY wage of very average players.
Best League In The world eh?
What is going on there....
At least you don't hate your job, you get paid properly, and will receive a nice pay-off if they do sack you.
I'll get a proverbial swift kick in the nuts the moment a chink in my armour is discovered.