Navijači, uprava i igrači bili su za ostanak Slavena Bilića, ali kineski vlasnici mislili su drugačije i hrvatski je trener u srijedu dobio otkaz na klupi WBA-a - niti 24 sata nakon senzacionalnog remija s Manchester Cityjem.
Takva odluka zatekla je englesku javnost, koja je praktički jednoglasno na Bilićevoj strani. Komentatori, novinari, navijači, neutralni promatrači, svi se slažu - Bilić nije zaslužio otkaz. Potez klupskih vlasnika najčešće opisuju "sramotnim".
Bilić je bio na predzadnjem mjestu Premierlige s jednom pobjedom i četiri remija u 13 utakmica, a to je ostvario s možda i najslabijim sastavom Premierlige. Vlasnici su potrošili svega oko 40 milijuna eura za pojačanja - iako promocija garantira zaradu oko "stotke" - i to uglavnom na igrače koji su prošle sezone u WBA-u bili na posudbama.
Pritom su još i protiv Bilićeve volje prodali iskusnog Ahmeda Hegazija usred sezone. Izvući bod s Građanima u takvim uvjetima pravo je čudo...
Nakon takvih poteza mnogi su izrazili nadu da će se WBA brzo vratiti u Championship. Pruzeti bi trebao Sam Alladryce, dežurni vatrogasac engleskog nogometa i čovjek koji je vodio već devet različitih engleskih klubova u karijeri.
U nastavku pogledajte neke od mnogih reakcija na Bilićev otkaz.
How can you sack a football manager who got you promoted last season in his first season at the club and who less than 24-hours earlier had got a 1-1 draw at the Etihad? West Brom have just done that. #SlavenBilic
— Neil Clark (@NeilClark66) December 16, 2020
They have the worst squad in the premier league and they have just drawn to City. What more could he have done?
— T (@taylor__1998) December 16, 2020
I sincerely hope you lot get relegated for this.
— VivaBruno 🇵🇹 (@SaucyUnited) December 16, 2020
One of the worst squads in the League , not much investment into the club with all that promotion money .... and straight after getting a draw against City last night?
Utterly ridiculous @WBA
Huge point vs City and then they do this. The owners really know how to destroy confidence
— Aidan Walsh 🔰 (@AidanWalshMUFC) December 16, 2020
This makes less sense than the government guidelines on meeting up over the Christmas holidays #SlavenBilic https://t.co/k3O5OGW53v
— David Barker (@David_Barker1) December 16, 2020