West Ham United legend Paolo di Canio says Gianfranco Zola's squad is too good to go down.

Di Canio, who is desperate to make an emotional return to Upton Park as manager in the future, says Zola must be given time to turn the club around.

He said: "Robert Green, Mark Noble, Scott Parker, Carlton Cole up front - you have international players.

"This can't be the position for West Ham but of course it is a bad moment.

"There were changes in the past and a few players that came in, like Luis Jimenez and Alessandro Diamanti. It is not easy to connect all together.

"Every year you change lots of things. Sometimes the job can go well quickly and sometimes you need time to get all together.

"But I am sure there is quality in the technical staff and the players that can get out of this situation."