Slaven Bilic tells high-flying West Ham to shoot on sight against Chelsea
West Ham may be the Premier League's second-highest scorers but Slaven Bilic wants them to adopt a shoot-on-sight policy - starting against Chelsea.
The Hammers have rattled in 20 goals already this term - only Manchester City have more - with Diafra Sakho, Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini and even right-back Carl Jenkinson chipping in.
But ahead of Saturday's visit of the Blues, Upton Park boss Bilic said he wants his sharp shooters to take aim even more often, just like they do in training.
"I am happy with that part of our game, we are creating chances, we are playing well," he said.
"The only thing I would like the team to do more is shoot. Sometimes we are waiting too long in clear-cut situations which is not always necessary. Sometimes you need to try your luck.
"It's sometimes difficult to create the chances which will put you one-on-one against the goalkeeper, and we have the players who are very dangerous when they shoot in training from 20 or 25 yards. That's what I'd like to see us do more."
While Jose Mourinho's wilting champions will arrive in east London in a lowly 12th place, West Ham are flying high in fourth.
Bilic has so far tried to play down expectations at the club but, ahead of the cross-London clash, even the laid-back Croat admitted things are looking good so far.
"I don't know how long we can stay there, we're going to try to continue to play good, or better, and with a little bit of luck and if we stay away from injuries we have a chance in every game," he added.
"Where that will bring us in a couple of months, or at the end, I don't know.
"We are realistically optimistic. We are playing good; on one hand we can improve in all things but on the other we know this is the Premier League and every game is extremely difficult."
Chelsea are finally showing signs of life, having beaten Aston Villa last weekend before a battling goalless Champions League draw at Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday.
The Premier League champions sit 12th in the table after nine games, having belatedly recorded a third win by beating Aston Villa last Saturday.
That was followed by a goalless Champions League draw at Dynamo Kiev, but Mourinho is uncertain if Chelsea are now climbing from their lowest point of the season.
"I don't know. I just know that the team was always together, the players were always together," Mourinho added.
"The players were man enough to assume responsibility and to say even publicly some of them that they were feeling responsibilities in their individual poor start.
"Statistics are very clear for us. As an example, we conceded six goals as a consequence of isolated individual mistakes.
"But the team was always together. We've got two important results, three points in the Premier League after two matches without a victory and against a direct rival for qualification in the Champions League (Dynamo) we got a point away and the chance in 15 days to play against them.
"The mood improves with results and people are happy."
Eden Hazard, Chelsea's leading performer last term, was dropped against Villa, but returned to the starting XI in Ukraine.
Mourinho declined to say if the Belgium playmaker would start at Upton Park, but merely spoke about his contribution at Dynamo after demanding an improved work ethic.
"I don't know (if Hazard will start)," said Mourinho, who has the same squad as he had for Tuesday's game, so Pedro and Loic Remy remain out.
"He played the last match and played for 90 minutes and he was part of the compact team that kept that clean sheet.
"I'm happy with his contribution against Dynamo and that's it."
Source: PAR
