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| Slaven Bilic has left every starter from last week's first leg at home |
SLAVEN BILIC has defended his decision to fly a second-string West Ham side to Romania for tonight's Europa League tie - three days before their Premier League opener at Arsenal.
The West Ham manager, whose team drew 2-2 with Astra Giurgiu in the first leg of the third qualifying round, has left several first-team members at home because the league campaign begins this weekend.
None of the 11 who started at Upton Park last week have travelled, with only captain Kevin Nolan, new recruit Manuel Lanzini and full-back Carl Jenkinson likely to feature on a regular basis this season.
Croatian Bilic said: "We are in a more difficult situation than we would have liked but we will do everything to try to win.
"We have come here with a good team that I have a strong belief in, but it is difficult to play here, then fly back for Arsenal.
"The situation for most of the clubs who are playing the qualification rounds is the same. We started pre-season very early."
Defeat would mean the end of their involvement in European competition, while a win would put the Hammers into the play-off round - and two legs away from reaching the group stage.
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