Slaven Bilic wary of West Ham’s Europa League campaign

Slaven Bilic believes West Ham’s Europa League adventure would be exciting but draining, were they to progress through qualifying and reach the group stages.

The Hammers beat Maltese club Birkirkara 1-0 with a scrappy 90th-minute goal from defender James Tomkins at Upton Park on Thursday night.

If the Irons secure an aggregate victory after the second leg next week at the Ta'Qali National Stadium, they will play either Inverness Caledonian Thistle or FC Astra of Romania in the third qualifying round.

Having managed Turkish side Besiktas in the competition last season, Bilic understands all too well the demands which will be placed on West Ham’s squad should they progress.

He said: "The Europa League is great for the club, you could see with the spectators, they are enjoying it, against people from Andorra and Malta, they all love to come for a European night.

"It is great for a team, it gains not only confidence, but they are different types of games, so it is good for us and for me - but on the other hand, it drains you.

"I did it a few times last season, when it was great for Besiktas, but it was also very difficult to play on Thursday in Liverpool, then on the Sunday you have an away game in Turkey.

"It was the same for Tottenham to come to Istanbul, to play on a Thursday night following a three-and-a-half hour flight. They lost the game, and then on Sunday they had to play at Swansea.

"That is shocking, for clubs like Borussia Dortmund, they had six games in the group stages of the Champions League, and afterwards they lost nearly all of their league games, and they were down (the table).”

Despite the demanding schedule European football can provide, Bilic insists he enjoys competing in continental competitions.

He said: "It has got a lot of positive things, but also a lot of negative things.

"But if you ask me, 'do I like to play in Europe?' Yes, I like it, it is good for the guys, but still we have to do a lot to qualify."