Hammers: Fearless And Relaxed Before Boro Game

"This is one of the best atmospheres I have ever seen", West Ham Manager GIANFRANCO ZOLA told the club's website. "The players are happy and are very keen for the job. When you have players like these, they do the job for you. This is one of the best sporting environments I have ever seen. It could not be better", Zola hailed his squad and the conditions at West Ham United.
The manager also insists his 'fearless' Hammers are ready for anything that Middlesbrough will throw at them in their FA Cup fifth round clash at Upton Park on Saturday 3 p.m. (GMT).
The Irons tasted defeat for the first time in nine games when they were narrowly beaten by Premier League champions Manchester United last week.
But the Italian is eager to prove that result was nothing more than a hiccup and his attentions are now on making it in to the quarter-finals of the world's most famous knockout competition. However, he is expecting a tough ride from Gareth Southgate's struggling side.
Zola told the club's website: "I am expecting a very tough match because they're obviously having a bad run in the league so for them this is a great opportunity to turn their season around.
"But I think the way the team are playing we don't fear anything and can do a good job in the FA Cup. That's the kind of attitude we'll have for the game on Saturday", the West Ham manager insisted."

Zola first enjoyed FA Cup success with Chelsea back in 1997, when the Blues overcame Middlesbrough 2-0. And he is now keen to replicate that feat from the sidelines.
"I remember everything about that day. I will always say that winning the FA Cup was one of the best achievements in my career and it would be fantastic to repeat it as a manager. I am very much looking forward to it."

The Guardian tells us that HAMMERS manager Gianfranco Zola has revealed that a relaxed atmosphere and an emphasis on enjoyment has been the secret behind the team's recent success. Zola insists the environment that he and assistant manager Steve Clarke have tried to create is the key to the vast improvement on the pitch.
"Steve and myself have been footballers so we know exactly what the players like and don't like," he told whufc.com. "We want to set up facilities that allow them to enjoy themselves and get better. Once the players get this feeling then it's easy and down to them.
"It's nothing special. It's just we like working with them and we want to give them something to improve them and it's really working well. Hopefully, we're looking forward to improving even more."

Video: -> "GZ" on the FA Cup (with a great goal Zola scored against Robert Green, that time Norwich keeper, in the FA Cup)