Slaven Bilic ready to ‘take the bullets’ ahead of crunch talks with West Ham owners

Slaven Bilic says he will ‘take the bullets’ for West Ham but does not know if he will be given time to turn things around after their 4-1 defeat to Liverpool.

A lacklustre Hammers side were handed a second consecutive home defeat as goals from Mohamed Salah, Joel Matip and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plummeted Bilic to his lowest ebb in east London.

Having been given two games (Tottenham and Crystal Palace) to save his job after the Brighton defeat Bilic will have to answer some tough questions.

When asked if he’ll have the time to turn the tide at London Stadium, the Croatian admitted he was unsure but remained confident in his abilities.

“I don't know. There are two situations. One, of course I believe in myself, my staff and my team and my character, I have had a long time in football. I came so far from a small country first as a player and then a manager. I am big fighter and all that.

“And I am definitely not feeling a broken man. I am very strong.

“On the other hand, the situation for West Ham is not good and as I said, two years ago, one year ago and now, the club is above every individual and that includes me.

“I never like to talk about myself like ‘I’m that, I’m that, I’m that’ I never do it I know my values and if I am anything I am a strong man and I am a big believer in myself and I never, and I am the one who is taking the bullets all the time when I have to and when I don’t have to so that is out of the question, how strong a character I am.”

Bilic is expected to meet with the owners on Monday, and the Hammers boss says he will face up to the consequences whatever the decision, and batted away suggestions that he could simply turn off his phone.

“When they call me [I’ll speak with the owners], when they call me.

“No [I won’t turn off my phone], I am not like that, I am never like that and I am always facing the situation and facing the consequences. Now you can am I am strong and I never hide behind anything.”

Jack Rosser's full time analysis from the London Stadium

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