‘No problem’ – Bilic backs West Brom star to emulate Luka Modric at The Hawthorns
Slaven Bilic has backed Branislav Ivanovic to have an impact at West Brom this season and said his age is not a problem.
The former Chelsea defender signed for the Baggies over the summer, despite the fact that he is approaching his 37th birthday.
With two Premier League starts already under his belt, Bilic is confident that the Serbia international could play a significant role this season.
“We go game by game but I don’t see why – if he stays clear of injury – that he (Ivanovic) can’t participate in every game,” said Bilic (via Express and Star).
“I see no problem there, he is not 42. Look at Pepe he is 37 and playing for Porto and Portugal. Luka Modric is 35 and playing for Real Madrid and Croatia. It’s not exceptional – it’s not like it’s Branislav Ivanovic and that’s it. Almost every club has a Branislav in their side.”
Age is just a number
Despite his advancing years, Ivanovic has been effective in a West Brom shirt so far, barring a bizarre incident that led to Jake Livermore scoring an own goal against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Monday night.
With two Premier League starts, the Serbian has averaged two tackles, one interception and 5.5 clearances so far. This is despite being paired with two different partners already in Semi Ajayi and the now departed Ahmed Hegazi (via WhoScored).
Going forward, Bilic will need to strike the right balance between keeping Ivanovic fresh and over working him, while also finding a place for Championship regular Kyle Bartley.
Whether the former Chelsea man can match Modric remains to be seen, but he can certainly be a valued member of the squad.
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