Source: SKY_Sports
Zola denies fall-out
Under-pressure West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola insists he has not fallen out with chief executive Scott Duxbury and technical director Gianluca Nani.
The Hammers have endured their worst start to a Premier League campaign since 2002/03, when they were eventually relegated, with just five points on the board from seven games.
Zola's side lie in the relegation zone with only Portsmouth below them as the race for the season's first managerial casualty heats up.
Reports over the weekend suggested Zola's relationship with Nani, who is in charge of player recruitment at the club, had become strained after the departures of key players during his reign.
The departures of Craig Bellamy in January and James Collins in the summer had reportedly angered Zola as replacements Alessandro Diamanti and Manuel da Costa have failed to live up to their billings.
However, Zola has spoken out to dismiss such rumours, insisting that he is happy with his squad and reiterated his healthy relationship with both Nani and Duxbury.
"The squad is very good. I am very happy with the players I have got. I decided to have them and I am going to work with them," he said.
Relationship
"I have always said that what we're doing here is something we are doing together. My relationship with Gianluca Nani and Scott Duxbury is wonderful.
"We are working very well together, as we said last year when we came together, and we are even closer.
"We have a strong spirit, and nothing will stop us from trying to achieve success.
"The points are not coming in the way we want, but we will respond on the pitch.
"Obviously we can certainly be better than what we are. I remain positive, because there is big potential.
"This is a moment where every single mistake is costing us very much."
The pressure on Zola increased at the weekend after his side lost the lead to 10-man Fulham before Junior Stanislas salvaged a point with a fortunate deflected effort in injury time.
The 2-2 draw halted a four-game run of defeats for the Hammers but after playing the majority of the match with an extra man following Kagisho Dikgacoi's first-half dismissal, Zola was unhappy with the showing.
"This was a very important match," he admitted.
"We need to improve the focus. The game is made by details - and if you don't pay attention to the details you will keep dropping points. It is as simple as that.
"We have to raise our attention, and I am here to do that.
"I don't pick the players - they pick themselves with their performances. The players know that if they don't do the work then somebody else will play instead."
