Avram Grant is ready for the challenge of facing Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime and was in upbeat mood when facing the press on Thursday. There was positive team news while he was full of praise for Scott Parker.
Avram on team news after the international breaks...
"The squad is in good shape. For us the injury situation is better. Freddie Piquionne is back and Robbie Keane is available. Of course we wanted to play last Saturday because we were in good momentum but we are looking forward to the game on Saturday.
"International breaks are not good for the clubs because there are so many Premier League players in international teams so we don't like it so much. But these are the fixtures and we need to respect them.
"From our point of view for the moment it looks like everybody is fit but with West Ham you never know."
Avram on Scott Parker finally getting recognition...
"I spoke about this from the beginning of the season because if you look at the midfield England play and you look at Scott Parker he maybe is the best midfielder this season.
"He is a good lad, a positive lad who is good for the team.
"He is doing a job that sometimes some other players don't like to do so much. I am very pleased he has got the recognition because for me it needed to be before.
"I don't want to talk about private matters but you can understand how he is feeling from a personal point of view. For the football he was available for us all the time. This season Scott Parker has played when he was injured and when he had the problems we have talked about. He is a very special guy, a special character and he is good for the team."
Avram on Saturday's game...
"We don't have a fully fit squad but it is more than we are used to. At West Ham when we have just two players injured it looks like there is none because you are used to ten or eleven injuries. Man United are a very good team, in every position they have three very good players. They are first place in the league and respect to them.
"We need to think about ourselves. In our last seven games we lost only one, we have had a lot of improvement. I think if you compare the second half of the season with the first half we have improved more than 50 per cent and we want to continue.
"I am sure all the teams are thinking the same, everyone can be relegated or finish eleventh. We are only thinking about ourselves. We have showed many good things and we can do it. It will be tough, it is not easy but if you look at us, we are not easy to play."
Avram on the secret of beating Man United after a 4-0 cup success...
"The secret is to score one more goal but this is top secret. Don't tell anyone...Man United is a very good team, they can beat anyone but we can cause them problems. What happened in the Carling Cup was unique. To beat Man United 4-0 in an official competition is something we all remember."
Avram on experienced players being key for the run-in...
"It is very important, especially if they are positive players. We have seen improvements at both ends of the pitch in this way."
Avram on the potential at the club...
"First we have to stay in the league. As I said when I came here, we have a vision and part of this is to be in the top third in the league. I agree that this team is a good team that can look forward and do better and better."
Avram on the difference made by Thomas Hitzlsperger...
"He is a very good player and a good person. A top professional and we took him at the beginning of the season. He was our first signing in the summer, we saw he can add a lot. He has everything and we missed him a lot. Now we are playing like we did last summer. His contribution you can see, it is good but he can do better. We know if we had Thomas we would have had more points but this is the situation."
Avram on defensive strength...
"It is important we have improved on all aspects. We are scoring more goals as well. Part of our target was to keep as many clean sheets. Rob Green and the back four have done a very good job lately. We are not conceding against good teams."
Avram on the importance of the final four home games...
"We have improved in away games and we are not afraid to go away. It is always good to play at home, though. The supporters are behind us, they are very good and we feel good with them."
Avram on setting his players' targets...
"We have spoken more about being consistent and being balanced between defensive and offensive. We speak about it, we adjust training. I don't believe so much in targets. Last year 35 points, West Ham stayed in the league, 35 was enough the season before that and it was 38 before that. This year it will be at least 40. There is not one manager who can know how many points are needed to stay in the league."