Slaven Bilic optimistic on West Ham's Champions League chances

By Michael Kelleher

Friday 15 January 2016 11:04, UK

Slaven Bilic believes positive thinking holds the key to West Ham qualifying for the Champions League for the first time.

The Hammers are one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham after defeating Bournemouth 3-1 on Tuesday, to secure their third consecutive league win.

Bilic has been keen to play down talk of a top-four finish this season but admits, with the right attitude, anything is possible for a team who could set a club record of nine Premier League games unbeaten at Newcastle on Saturday.

"If you ask me if we are thinking about it realistically and starting to be a little bit big-headed about the Champions League, no, we are not," he said.

"We know that we are West Ham and we are enjoying the season and we are respecting every opponent without being afraid of them, and that's it.

"Are we favourites now to finish in the top four? We are not. But nobody can take the hope and the belief out of you.

"My philosophy in life is that there is nothing wrong with being confident, optimistic or positive. For me, on the contrary, you have to be like that if you want to get any chance to make it, whatever you do in your life.

"If you go to take a driving test and you say 'I can't do it', of course you're going to fail. If you got on a date and you're approaching a girl in a nightclub and you think she's going to tell you off and all that, no chance.

"But if you are positive, you have a chance. For the Champions League, or whatever - top 10, or staying up. Sunderland believe they can stay up. You have to do it, without that there is no chance."

The game against Newcastle comes after the Magpies showed impressive spirit to twice come from behind to draw 3-3 with Manchester United on Tuesday.

That performance has not gone unnoticed by Bilic and he believes they will provide a stern test this weekend.

"They are definitely improving," added Bilic. "They had a slow start; a new team, a new manager, new everything.

"They are a massive club which in recent seasons had slow starts or difficult seasons. But they have improved; they have a good squad, great individuals, and great strikers.

"They made a good comeback against Manchester United and they are on a high, so I expect a difficult game at a great stadium."