London Football News

Bilic admits Hammers face tough task at United

Slaven Bilic admitted the EFL Cup draw had not been kind to West Ham after they were handed another away quarter-final against Manchester United.

It means a return to Old Trafford for Bilic’s side, who drew there before losing at home to United in a replay in the quarter-finals of last season’s FA Cup.

“It’s not good. Since I’ve been here we’ve had tough draws,” said the Hammers boss.

“Last year in the League Cup we had Leicester away and in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup we again got Man United away.

“But it is going to be a great game at a great stadium.”

West Ham secured their place in the last eight with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the London Stadium, where rival fans were involved in violent scenes.

Bilic condemned the behaviour of those involved but insisted the focus ought to be on his team’s performance.

“I think this game deserves to be talked about a little bit more,” he said at his post-match press conference.

“It was a London derby, 2-1 to us, great goals – we should be spending at least three-quarters of this (press conference) talking about this.

“Ask me about the game, not something I have nothing to say about.”

Pressed for his reaction to the crowd trouble, Bilic said: “I can only say that I noticed it and of course it was there, but I was concentrating on the game.

“I don’t know what happened, but whatever happened we are totally against it as a club. For these kind of things to happen is unacceptable.”




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