Slaven Bilic: It's important West Ham fans stay united as we become accustomed to London Stadium

Slaven Bilic16 September 2016

I now know there were some issues in the stadium during the game against Watford, although at the time I was not aware of it.

Although I haven’t asked the players, I don’t believe it had any effect on the way we played — and I certainly would not use that as any excuse for the result.

We always appreciate the support we receive from the West Ham fans, home and away. It is always fantastic and it drives us on, wherever we are playing.

But while we are still becoming accustomed to the new stadium and to making it our new home — and I have said many times that this not an instant thing, it will take time — I know already that our new home is one of which the players and myself are truly proud.

It is so important to us that the supporters get behind the team. It can make so much difference, believe me. All the players will tell you the same and the noise when we scored our second goal against Watford was amazing.

It is important that, whatever, the issues, we try to stay united at all times, both as a team and as a club. If we do this, I know we will achieve the success that we all want.

This is football, and this is West Ham, so we must expect great passion, but we also must respect the supporters who bought season tickets with their families — we have 10,000 under-16s in the stadium — and they should be able to sit with their dads and enjoy the game.

It is very hard — no, impossible — to please everyone, but I know that everybody at the club is working very hard behind the scenes and I know also that we have the right people at the club to ensure the stadium feels like home for everyone.

Neutrals love Payet's skill

West Ham United via Getty Images

I like Troy Deeney and I understand why he said and what he said about us “mugging them off”, or whatever term he used after Dimitri Payet’s cross for our second goal. There was no way anyone was taking the mickey, though. Ricardo Quaresma, for example, puts about 80 per cent of his crosses over in this way. I know in England some people are not impressed by such skills, but I think most neutrals would enjoy our goal and the way it came about.

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