Some ill-informed gossip has implied that Paolo could have returned to England on the last day of the campaign to wave goodbye for the summer, but Ges explains:
"You have got to remember his leg was immobilised in a proper brace because with medial ligaments you are in a fixed brace.
"There is a huge risk, if your leg has been fixed for any length of time of getting a deep vein thrombosis and to fly back and put yourself at risk of that would have been folly.
"I know in Paolo's heart of hearts, when he got the injury he wanted to be back for Bolton and play the last game; if there was a realistic hope of playing any game before the end of the season he wanted it because he loves the club and loves to play for West Ham.
"Obviously that wasn't to be but I know he would have even wanted to have been in the crowd with the supporters for the last game, but when your leg is immobilised and you have had an injury in that area to that degree and for that length of time, airline flights are the last thing you want.
"You only have to read the messages now regarding flights; it wouldn't have been sensible although in his heart I know he would have flown back.
"We talked about it before - and it was the right decision."
Paolo is stepping up his work, and Ges says:
"He was glad to get his brace off, which he had worn for three weeks and had to sleep in; it was a big thing for him, and he has now been doing work in the swimming pool.
"Of course he is out in Bologna with Roberto Baggio and that is bound to be a great incentive for Paolo to work and get fit with his national hero in Italy.
"Paolo rates him very, very, highly, so to be in that sort of company to rehabilitate must be absolutely wonderful for your drive and your incentive to get fit.
"He was absolutely delighted to be out of the brace because keeping your legs rigid for such a long time and having to sleep in the thing must have been horrendous.
"He is miles away from his home town and having six and a half or seven hours treatment a day so it is quite labour intensive, but we are confident he will be running before preseason and able to do it correctly.
"Knowing how meticulous Paolo is about his preparations I am sure he will follow everything to the letter."
As for the injury to Sebastien Schemmel, Ges says:
"Seb is recovering well and was delighted to be Hammer of the year; the injury will take a few weeks but we don't foresee any problems at the moment."
As for Don, Ges rejects reports that a September return has been pencilled in, ans insists:
"Don is putting in the work all the time and he has been very determined with his injury - he is coming on really nicely but we don't want to set any goals at this early stage.
"The important thing is that he is moving on stage by stage in his recovery and as soon as he is able to get out and kick a ball and play he will do that, but we don't want to rush it unnecessarily as we obviously don't want him to break down.
"If we can get him back in the early part of the next season all well and good, but sometimes these things can only been judged as time goes on."
With the exception of the four players involved in the World Cup, and those injured players, it is a case of rest for the Hammers players - and that is particularly welcome for Michael Carrick.
Adds Ges:
"It has been a long season and we don't have a big squad where we can call on many bodies; through the season people like Michael Carrick, who had an injury for a while, just can't be replaced.
"So you have to make a decision to keep going if they are agreeable - particularly if there is no harm to the player.
"It would be nice to think that someone else could pop in and step into his shoes, but we haven't got that luxury and we have had a few injuries this season.
"By the time you get to the end of the season there were a lot of tired bodies, and the fact that they have worked so hard particularly after a difficult start takes its toll.
"To finish seventh from where we were was a tremendous achievement for Glenn Roeder and the football club."