Slaven Bilic: Three weeks to get West Brom firing
Head coach Slaven Bilic says he can have Albion’s players physically ready to resume their push for the Premier League in less than three weeks.
It was back on March 7 that the Baggies took on Swansea in what was their last outing before football was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And with the country subsequently placed on lockdown,
Bilic admits it’s been difficult to know how hard they should push the players physically.
But with the help of Nick Davies – Albion’s head of performance – he says they have devised a plan that means they can be match ready in little over a fortnight.
“I’m quite positive with the programme we’ve made that we’ll be in good shape when we come back,” Bilic said.
“Nobody knows how long it’s going to be.
“It’s an unprecedented situation, it’s never happened before.
“That’s why we have opted for a ‘maintaining’ programme, just stay in good shape, don’t add any weight and do your stuff.
“Nick’s training is brilliant, it’s interesting, it’s not boring.
“If we stay fit-ish, then we’d need two-and-a-half to three weeks to be back in good form to play games.
“That’s what I told the players – stay fit, but the most important thing in that is not to gain any weight.
“Then you can play after two weeks of training together.”
Bilic continued: “I have a bit of experience because twice I was manager of Croatia at the Euros, when you’re in a situation where the players have already had their season and have a couple of weeks’ break.
“I’m quite positive if they don’t gain any weight then, based on training for three weeks, we can reach the same form for the last nine games.”
