West Ham United manager Avram Grant has used his pre-match press conference to urge his side to travel to Manchester United full of confidence on Saturday afternoon.
The Hammers may be the underdogs for the live ESPN-televised fixture at Old Trafford, but Grant has told his players that they must believe that they can upset the odds and leave the Theatre of Dreams with a victory under their belts.
The manager also discussed the signing of Nigeria forward Victor Obinna and his respect for Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes.
Avram on Victor Obinna…
Victor Obinna has signed for us and we are very happy. He's a very good player for us and can play in many forward positions. He is also part of our plans for the next season to take players who can develop. He has signed on loan with an option to buy.
Avram on other transfer targets…
I believe we have been linked with a lot of players but I cannot say anything until we have signed a player.
We came here and wanted to change things and make things better. We have a problem with the financial situation, as everybody knows, the team is in a lot of debt. We need to think about this.
This is the reason we are taking players on loan with options - first because it is cheaper and second because it will be good for us in the future. We can see that. We are looking for players.
Avram on the feeling in the squad ahead of a trip to Manchester United...
You know that it will not be an easy fixture, especially for us who are trying to get everything more organised and are only at the beginning of a process. It's not an easy game, but I don't think Manchester United will have an easy life tomorrow.
I say that because I see the players, I see their development and I see they didn't play well in the first game [at Aston Villa] but in the second game [against Bolton Wanderers], in my opinion, they played good football. We deserved to win but there is no 'deserve' in football.
I was also pleased with the game in the Carling Cup [against Oxford United] because they showed, in the psychological side, that it was not an easy game for us.
I see the players in training every day and I'm confident we can do something. Man United are a good team, yes, but football is football.
Avram on tightening up defensively before facing Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez...
Man United have top players - not only them but also Dimitar Berbatov and Paul Scholes, who I think becomes younger every year. They are the best players, for the moment, in England.
They have very good players and a very good bench, of course. You can see the budget of them too but I believe in football anything can happen - in football you need to think like this. I think we showed in the past that anything can happen.
One thing I don't want is for us to give up before the game, nor in the game.
Avram on Paul Scholes returning to the England squad...
I think it would be good for England if it happened and also good for him, because in my view, to serve your country is a privilege. It is something that is more than any other thing.
His age doesn't matter because he plays so well. If Paul Scholes was 27 he would be in the squad, so I think someone needs to speak with him and tell him he is 27-years-old, then he will be in the squad!
Avram on the number of players retiring from international football...
I'm not surprised because it was happening before. I think I don't like it because when you are living in a country and are a citizen of a country, you need to give everything for your country and not think about yourself.
Avram on problems against Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers...
I think we are a new team with new players. We practised in the training camp and played very well, but we came to the first game after the international break with a few injuries. Some, like Thomas Hitzlsperger, were key players, so we weren't so organised for the first game. This will not happen when we've had more time together.
I can't say anything about the second game because we played better than I thought. We created a lot of chances. Football-wise it was a great game, but football is a game of results. Two direct balls from the goalkeeper and we lost the game.
I think if we continue like this, remember we have a long, long season, I'm positive we will be OK.
Avram on the importance of team spirit...
One thing that I like to do with my team is always to progress. In Chelsea I received a team in a situation and we progressed and in Portsmouth it was the same and in the last two or three months it was good. I think in every month you will see development.