Source: Telegraph
Gianfranco Zola considers bringing in sports psychologist to boost West Ham confidence
On the field, West Ham United are in the relegation zone, with senior players such as Carlton Cole, Kieron Dyer and Valon Behrami injured, while off the field, the club's Icelandic owners have major financial problems but are rebuffing a takeover bid from David Sullivan and David Gold, the former Birmingham City directors. [LNB]Against this backdrop, some supporters are close to turning on a manager that they were initially reluctant to embrace because of his Chelsea connections. [LNB] Related ArticlesWest Ham v Chelsea: previewWest Ham to reinforce Gianfranco Zola regime with cashTottenham target Matthew UpsonWest Ham and Zola are victims of the credit crunch'Robert Green will recover from Bolton blunder'Sport on televisionBut Zola is an optimist and believes the power of positive thinking can turn the situation around, even if he needs to bring in assistance. [LNB]He has admitted that he is considering using a sports psychologist to help boost the confidence of his players, which has been undermined by their predicament. [LNB]'One of the first things I have to improve here is the confidence level,' he said. [LNB]'The problems you see at the moment are because the confidence is not there and that is totally understandable. We are fighting to get up from a low position so we can not get it going. Confidence comes from a belief that what you are doing is the right.' [LNB]Zola is adamant that he will not sacrifice his — and West Ham's — footballing principles and take a more pragmatic approach to picking up points. 'I was appointed to play a certain way and I don't see why you cannot win games by playing good football.' The problem is that he does not have the quality of players or transfer budget of Carlo Ancelotti, his opposite number in the dugout today and, by a twist of fate, the man who sold Zola to Chelsea when he was manager of Parma in 1996. [LNB]The former Italy team-mates both want to play passing football but their teams are poles apart on and off the pitch, even though Chelsea have won only one of their past five games. [LNB]'I'm not worried,' said Ancelotti. 'It can be difficult when you don't have good results, you don't train well or you have injury problems, but it's important to pass these moments and continue. We deserve to be top of the league because we have done better than the other teams since the start of the season.' [LNB]The same reason explains West Ham's predicament — they are in the relegation zone because they have won only three league games this season, but Zola prefers to accentuate the positive. [LNB]'We need to switch the players' minds on to the good points, and there are a lot of them. There are also a few problems but we are not interested in them. We are interested in the good things we can produce — that is my philosophy. [LNB]'Right now everybody is thinking about the negatives rather the positives. We don't have Cole or Behrami, we have too many young players, and so on. It is time to stop that. They have 11 men and we have 11 men, that is all. Last year we didn't have Scott Parker, Behrami, Cole and Dyer at times, but our minds were positive and we kept performing, and that is my point.' [LNB]So would he consider using a sports psychologist? 'I would consider anything. I am thinking of that, and it might be one of the solutions. I keep an open mind so I will do whatever it takes to improve the situation.'[LNB]Ancelotti believes his compatriot can turn things around. 'I am a fan of Zola. I'm a fan of the good guys and he's a good coach. Last year he did very well and now he has some problems, but he has the quality to solve this.' [LNB]One of the reasons Zola appears relaxed is that he went into the job with his eyes open. 'The pressure is high at the moment but I knew when I took the job that I was going to face this situation. The only thing that would worry me is if it affects the players. They are fantastic, doing everything they have been told to do, and if it doesn't work out it is because of me." [LNB]But he has belief in his ability as a manager. 'I think I can motivate my players, I am good at that, and I will use whatever is necessary to get them in the best mood.' [LNB]Matthew Upson returns from injury on Sunday, with a number of clubs keen to sign the England defender. But Zola says he will resist all offers. 'We have no pressure to sell any players, which is a good thing for me. We have to stop worrying about things. If the worries are too much we don't enjoy the game any more and I don't want that.' [LNB]
