The manager faced the press on Friday ahead of the FA Cup third-round tie and spoke at length about the determination in the camp to make amends for the midweek setback at Newcastle United. The manager will blood some new faces against Barnsley but said he would be going all out for the victory.
Avram on the team putting the midweek defeat behind them against Barnsley...
Like I said, the game was not good, everything Newcastle did went well, Robert Green could not make any saves for the goals because they finished very well. We didn't play well at all.
Because we had done well in the previous four games, it was even more disappointing since we felt that we were doing the right things before. I must say that from time to time it happens. It happened to us against Liverpool and then the reaction was very good and I hope it will be the same against Barnsley.
Less than one week ago, people said we were very good and in the right way because we were up to 15th. After three days you say that we are not good. We didn't think we were heroes before and we don't think the opposite now. We know our position and what we have to do.
We had a very good Christmas, we did it in the right way. One game will not stop our ambitions. Remember we are only two points from 14th and only five points from eleventh.
Avram on his future…
I don't have anything to say about this, I am used to it almost from the day when I arrive. I need to do my job, the other things are not my area.
In football many people say that you are as good as your last result but we know what we are doing. In the last five games we drew two and we won two, one of them with Fulham away which is a very difficult place to play. We won a six-pointer against Wolves and then came the Newcastle defeat. We are not analysing only one game, we are analysing the whole situation and there are at least ten teams more or less in the same position.
Avram on press speculation...
For me it is like any job. It only matters what your boss is telling you and not what other people are telling you. I have a good relationship with the owners here, one of them was here today and we are only concentrating on how we can make our squad stronger and not other things.
Avram on the importance of Saturday's match…
Our first priority is the league and of course we have reached the semi-finals of the Carling Cup after winning at Sunderland away, Stoke at home and of course against Man United, the only game that they lost this season.
We are very pleased to be in the semi-finals and we want to continue with our form on Tuesday. That will be an important match for us. Despite all what is happening we are continuing with our vision and against Barnsley you are going to see other two young players who are the future of the club. We are going to play as the other matches, to win.
Avram on fan backing…
The fans are great. I must say that. They are doing well behind us. It is not easy when you want to give the fans reason to be happy. What they saw at Newcastle was not good. Of course they were not happy and neither were we. I think 700 travelled up there and they were brilliant. We are doing everything to make them happy. We wanted a different result and we to perform well but it didn't happen.
Avram on transfer rumours...
I cannot answer about players. I did a mistake and I answered about a deal when we didn't finish it. We know and everyone knows we need a stronger squad. We have some long-term injuries. We will do everything to make the squad stronger..
Avram on coping with the pressure…
I knew what business I am in from the first moment. I really think that when you sign the manager, you sign a philosophy. We know what our vision is for the long and short-term. We need to do our job. Against Barnsley, it is a cup game and we want to win. We want to continue our project to let young players play. They will play, we will be behind them and I am sure they will do their best.
We need to stick together. I am very happy with the reaction of the supporters and the players. This is what is important, what we do on the pitch.