West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has given his players permission to celebrate the festive season but cancelled his own Christmas party ahead of the trip to Swansea City in the Premier League on Dec. 26. Consecutive home wins for the first time this season over Burnley and Hull City have pushed West Ham up to 13th in the table, five points above the relegation zone, and Bilic said he wanted his players to celebrate the victories. West Ham finished seventh last term but have struggled since moving to the London Stadium at the start of the season, winning just five of 17 league games so far. "There is nothing wrong with having a couple of beers at the right time, after the game," Bilic told the British media. "I want (the players) to be mentally free, I want them to enjoy their lives. I want them to enjoy that we had six points from these two demanding games." Away from the London Stadium, the team have picked up five points on their travels and Bilic said that unlike his players, he would spend his time preparing for a tough run of fixtures. After the Swansea game, West Ham travel to champions Leicester City on Dec. 31 before hosting Manchester United on Jan. 2. "I (will) take my staff out but I told them, 'No Christmas party,'" Bilic said. "We can have a Christmas party in January or February, let's do the business first, because I want to enjoy that night out." (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)
