Manuel Lanzini wants Slaven Bilic to stay at West Ham
Saturday 8 April 2017 14:15, UK
Manuel Lanzini has given his backing to Slaven Bilic ahead of West Ham's crunch clash against relegation rivals Swansea.
Five successive Premier League defeats have left the Hammers just five points above the relegation zone in 15th and they will attempt to halt their slide when they host 18th-placed Swansea at London Stadium on Saturday.
The West Ham board insisted they were 100 per cent behind Bilic following last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Hull, though reports in the national press have since suggested the 48-year-old's position will be severely under threat if his side suffer another loss.
But Lanzini, who joined West Ham from Al Jazira Club in July 2015 and was part of the side that finished seventh last season on 62 points, hopes Bilic will still be at the club next season.
"Slaven has shown a lot of confidence in me since the very beginning," the 24-year-old Argentine told the Daily Mirror.
"He is a big part of the reason I signed for the club and has always treated me very well so I am very grateful to him for that.
"He is a great coach and works very closely with the players. There is still a level of respect between him and the players.
"It is not my decision about Slaven's future but he led the club to a great season last year and I am very grateful to him. I would love him to stay."
