Slaven Bilic: The Premier League needs to get over itself… There are good teams in Europe too

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Slaven Bilic

Slaven Bilic wants the Premier League to get over itself and realise minor European countries are catching up.

England endured a dismal opening week to this season’s Champions League after three defeats, Chelsea’s win against Maccabi Tel-Aviv the only redeeming result.

But Bilic rubbished claims of consternation after a chastening two days and was not shocked at problems on the continent.

‘Why are people so surprised when Manchester United loses a game against PSV? Man United is a bigger club and have a better team but many big clubs have lost at PSV,’ the West Ham manager said.

Bilic fielded a phone call from Dinamo Zagreb boss Zoran Mamic on how to topple Arsenal, with Arsene Wenger’s eventually going down 2-1 in the Croatian capital.

‘It isn’t a shock. You can lose in Zagreb,’ Bilic added. ‘It was a major surprise, the whole of Croatia is surprised, but it can happen.

‘They play football there as well. They are a decent team, unbeaten in 42 games.

‘I think they [England’s four teams] are going to qualify. That would be great and vital for the Premier League, but is it going to be easy for them? For Arsenal definitely not.’