West Ham keeper Robert Green insists Gianfranco Zola is a "great
manager" and claims the Italian has been "hamstrung" by selection
problems.
Zola announced on Monday that he was "determined to carry on"
as boss after considering his future over the weekend in the wake
of recent results.
The Hammers have lost six consecutive Premier League games to
slip down the standings and are currently outside the relegation
zone on goal difference alone.
But Green believes it was clear in the 1-0 defeat to Stoke on
Saturday that Zola was doing his utmost to revive the team's
fortunes.
The England goalkeeper also thinks that Zola's job has been
made more difficult by an injury crisis this season, while it has
been difficult for the club to keep a settled squad due to the
delicate financial situation.
"He's a great man and a great manager and you could see on
Saturday that it's not through want of trying," said Green.
"He's been hamstrung through the season with selection
problems and players leaving and injuries and things like that and
he's just putting out the teams that seem fit for the games."
Green insists the players are right behind the Italian and
has urged his team-mates to stay calm in attacking areas to end
their problems in front of goal.
He explained: "It's up to us to put in the effort that we did
on Saturday and to have the confidence to carry on playing and play
more football in and around the final-third which, hopefully, will
make the difference."
