Grant on... Birmingham

  • by Staff Writer
  • Wednesday, 12th January 2011

His final press conference as West Ham United manager, say the rumourmongers. Avram Grant stands his ground whilst reflecting on Carling Cup success...

Avram: if you just tell your players they're playing in a cup competition every match your league position would improve remarkably?

Yes and no - because also in the last league games we've played, except Newcastle, we've played well. Wolves here; Everton here; Fulham away. I think in the last [few] weeks it's been good.

Today it was very hard because we were [left] with ten players for many minutes. I'm very pleased for the players, I thought the spirit was great and it's not easy to play so many games in such a short time. They did very well, especially with ten players.

The football first half was good, we went in at 1-0 but could easily have scored more. We played well passing the ball, the counter attacking was good. The second half, they started by scoring the goal. For them it's a good goal but it's the first time I've seen a team score against us from a corner for a long time.

After we were reduced to ten players I think we did great. The goal, even if the finish was like it was came from great passing between the players. Before this, Zavon Hines was in the box and almost scored. So I'm very pleased with the spirit of the players, it was very, very important.

Do you think a one goal lead will be enough for the second leg?

It's an advantage - but nothing is finished yet. It's an advantage, especially with ten players. The result could be different but it's better to go with than a draw.

Do you think you'll still be in charge here by the second leg?

I understand why you ask me but, you know... There are seven teams in our position, more or less, in the league. One point, two points, it's not a big difference. We are the only one in a semi final and you keep asking me these questions.

If you don't ask anybody else from the other teams that are in our position then I'll say nothing about this. You'll have to ask someone who gave you this information, not me.

That's because there's been so much speculation about your position and your future. How difficult was it to go into this game...

[interrupts] It's speculation, I'm asking myself why there is no speculation about the others? There are seven teams in our position, more or less, but you keep asking me. I'm not complaining against you, but I'm not the man you need to be asking. I'm responsible for only one thing. If I don't want to be here I'd go to the owners and say I don't want to be here. Any other decision is not mine.

How difficult is it to prepare for a game like this when we're told, we hear, there's a board meeting the next morning which could decide...

[interrupts again] It's not the first time since I've [been] in the club, I've lived with this almost since day one that I was here. This for me doesn't matter, I'm doing my job.

I think for us it would be much easier if the rumours around us were like [those] at other clubs. There's Wolves around us, Wigan, Fulham, West Bromwich, Birmingham - but the talk's only about West Ham. So I think if everything was quieter it would help the players more.

But even with this, you saw the spirit of the players today; you saw the spirit of the players Saturday; you saw the spirit of the players against Wolves; against Everton; against Fulham and against Blackburn. Not easy games - and I think that everybody needs to respect this.

Why do you think the rumours are only about West Ham?

I don't know, I don't spend much time [thinking] about this. I spend a lot of time dealing with the problems in the team - a lot of time because if you saw the team today there were only 16 senior players in the squad. A few of them couldn't play for more than 20, 30 minutes.

Mark Noble - we didn't plan for him to play so long after his injury, but we played him and he played well. Other players, like Matthew Upson had to play at left back. Winston Reid played and I think he did very well in his second start. Other players like [Jonathan] Spector did a great job. So I need to deal with this, I don't want to expend energy on other things.

Do you think it would help everybody if the board would come out and make a statement tomorrow, backing you after their meeting?

I understand all your questions but I'm asking you... We also need to give respect to the players. They did a great job with ten players. Don't deal with me, don't worry about me - I will be fine and I'll be ok. I really appreciate that you're worried about me, you like me and you want me to be near you. I like you also, by the way... [laughs]

No, I don't believe that someone from the club is behind this but why do you need to ask me about things that are beyond my control? You can ask me why I picked this player and not the other one because this is my responsibility. You can ask me if I want to stay or not... But no no, don't ask me this! [more laughs]

Things I can decide, but other things I don't even know how to answer you.

Can we ask about Wayne Bridge? Is he likely to come in tomorrow?

When the deal is done we'll announce it. The deal isn't done so I don't know. I don't want to speak, I remember what happened with Sidwell.

Can I ask about you the winning goal? Did you actually see it go in because most people turned away in despair, because it wasn't the best contact, was it?

I must tell you - for me it was a great goal... [laughs]

Within two minutes we made two good attacks; Zavon Hines went to the side and he saved it and the other was a great combination. Scotty [Parker] gave a good ball to Spector who made a good run and [delivered] a good pass. And the finish? If it's a goal, I'm happy!

Have you seen the Obinna red card yet?

No, I haven't seen it yet because I came to speak with you.

Has he said anything about it? Has he apologised to his team mates or offered any explanation whatsoever?

I had ten, fifteen minutes with the players and then I came to talk to you.

Will you take any action against him?

First we need to see it. I know that you're used to everything at West Ham being public but anything we do with the player will be like in the family. If someone does something wrong I'll meet him and say to him we need to deal with it inside.

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