Avram Grant admitted he had some selection issues to consider in attack when preparing to face Tottenham Hotspur on Friday, with Frederic Piquionne hurt last weekend at Stoke City, a match that Demba Ba missed. Grant confirmed he had yet to make his mind over his squad when facing the press, who were keen to talk about meeting old friends at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
Avram on taking on Harry Redknapp...
I prefer to eat lunch or dinner with Harry Redknapp. I don't like [meeting in matches]. No, we are playing against each other, we are good friends and I really respect him and I like how he thinks about football.
When you come to the game, you treat it like any other game. I am trying to win the game, he is trying to win the game. But after of course it is different.
Avram on his good record against Spurs being because of Redknapp relationship...
No, I don't think it is because of this. People also say I have a good record against Liverpool but I don't know the managers there. I think it is by coincidence. I am also friends with the owner of Tottenham but it doesn't make a difference.
Avram on frustration at still being in the bottom three after good league run...
I cannot say it is frustrating. I can say we didn't take points at the beginning of th season even though we were dealing with problems reasonably OK. It is good that we have made up the difference from when we were at the bottom and we have come to a situation where we can change things. I don't think so much about the past or frustration. We are happy with what we have been doing in recent games and want to continue with this.
Avram on the team being in a strong place...
We are confident. I think you know there is no deserve in football because football is a game of points only. But the way, the road to the points is important. We kept our way of how to play football even in a difficult time but of course it is easier when you have all the players, when you have the players you want. If you take West Ham as a project for the next few years, this first year can be a good base for the future.
Avram on Spurs being distracted by Europe on Saturday....
I don't think so but I must say they have done very well in their first year in the Champions League. If this game was in a week when they were playing Real Madrid next Tuesday, that could be a factor but now I don't think so.
Avram on Spurs' injuries...
Tottenham have a big squad with so many good players. I don't think it has affected them. We had eight or nine injuries and sometimes it was a problem but we still beat Fulham with that situation. I don't think it is a problem for Spurs.
Avram on his team scoring goals galore in recent games...
We are playing the same football that I think it is my philosophy is to play. This is also the West Ham way over the years. We are playing now with the players in good form, we bought good players in January now it looks easier so now looks easier but it isn't easy.
Avram on staying up being a good achievement...
For the first year we wanted to do something - the semi-final of the Carling Cup, quarter-final of the FA Cup and to stay in the league would be good.