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HEWhen told that most of the season’s teasers, including the one that was put together using the accumulated intellectual power of The Guardian football journalists, have labeled West Brom as certain to finish last in the Premier League this season, Slaven Bilic said: “You can’t get more positive than that, that’s great! I don’t mean to say it’s an excuse or an alibi and things can only get better. Not in that sense. I mean, ‘let’s prove they’re all wrong.’ Now we have an even greater motivation. “
The West Brom manager also invoked examples that give heart to his promoted team. “We want to compete as a very confident team that is going to stay in the league for a long time. I bet when you spoke to Sheffield United before the start of last season, they said their first goal was to stay on their feet. But when they gained momentum, they didn’t say ‘no, no, now we’re happy.’
“You have to be humble, positive and balanced. We only think of positive things. We don’t think of Norwich, we think of Sheffield United and also Aston Villa, who fought until the last day of the season.
“There are many positive examples in every league every year. We want to be like them. For that you have to have the right quality, the right mindset and, above all, you have to believe. Because if you don’t believe, what’s the point? We believe. “
They may be fooling themselves out of necessity, but at least they are not saying the season is going to be easy and they know that there is a key part of Bilic’s formula – the part about “the right quality” – that needs to be addressed.
After finishing second in the championship despite a nervous showdown, West Brom had to do two things to prepare for his return to the top flight: make permanent signings of loaners who did well last season and recruit enough top players. level. thrive in the Premier League.
They have managed to make the first half, securing the continued services of Callum Robinson, Matheus Pereira and, most valuable of all, Grady Diangama, and are working to bring Filip Krovinovic back from Benfica.
The second half is proving more difficult, although as Bilic spoke on Friday, former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic was going through a doctor at the club with a view to signing for Zenit St. Petersburg, where he has been captain for the last three seasons. He will not be available in time for Sunday’s first game of the season at home to Leicester, but Bilic is convinced the player will be a valuable addition to their lineup and, at 36, can still be a force in the Premier. League.
“His career has been magnificent, so everyone is delighted,” said Bilic. “I know how he plays. We’re not talking about someone we had to do homework with from their time at Chelsea, that was a long time ago. Ivanovic played very, very well at Zenit. We tell him because of his experience, his quality and the influence he will have on the field and in the dressing room. Not just the centrals, not just the defenders, will have the opportunity to learn from him. He met all the requirements for us. “
West Brom continues to try to strengthen its attacking options, and success could hinge on its ability to find gold with modest resources. Chelsea’s 20-year-old forward Conor Gallagher and Huddersfield forward Karlan Grant are among the targets.
“We do our best to be creative, but it is not easy to be creative without the right funding for the players we are talking about and want to get. We want players to improve us immediately and those players cost money. But we are trying, we are close to making a couple more deals and we are doing everything we can to be in a better position. “
