Bilic: Smaller clubs must 'dream' big

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic wants the smaller
league clubs to aim for the Champions League.

Slaven Bilic has called on the smaller Premier League clubs to
target Champions League qualification after leading West Ham
into third spot following a surprising start to the season.

The Croatian, who took over from Sam Allardyce after being
appointed in June, has inspired his team to victories over
Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Bilic admits it will not be easy to maintain their promising form
but claims other teams must become more ambitious in their
aspirations.

"You have a lot of surprises in every league, Celta Vigo in Spain
at the moment, in Italy, Germany and England," he said.

"But if you are talking about wonders, then the real wonder is if
you are doing it for the whole season.

"It is very rare - but it is possible, of course. And we should all -
all the clubs outside these top six as you call them - should
hope or dream or even plan, in a positive way, about finishing in
the top four because otherwise what is the point of playing?

"In every country you have surprises in cups - here you have
three Championship clubs in last eight [of the League Cup] but
in a league it is very difficult, every year you have someone, you
can call it a wonder or a surprise package or one club isolated
because they are there for one part of the season but it can be
done."

Meanwhile, Bilic, who played for West Ham between 1996 and
1997, said he was unable to police his players in their
downtime.

Striker Andy Carroll has been told to improve his behaviour and
Bilic warned the England international about his future conduct.

"I don't live with him. I am not a policeman and I am not
investigating their lives," he said. "They are young people, they
are going out. We all used to go out.

"All I am telling them is very normal. It is very hard to go out
because of the media. I can understand they go out but it is all
about timing, when and where.

"Did he [Carroll] look good after his body in history? Maybe it
was unluckiness but probably true because all those stories
there has got to be something in them.

"We had a few chats. He has matured. He is now, when you talk
to him, like a proper man.

"Eventually it is probably going to happen, we are going to read
sometimes - you know what I mean - but he is really ready to be
like what we all want. I have a feeling he wants to be like that
as well."