Avram Grant reflects on a job well done - whilst revealing an as-before-unseen passionate side to his personality...
The best West Ham performance since you arrived here?I think so, yes; it was a good three points. It's the first time that we've taken three points and I'm happy. Firstly because I know how much this game means to the supporters, and to win against a very good team. It's the first time we've kept a clean sheet, we won, so I'm happy with this.
How would you describe Robert Green's performance? He needed that for his confidence, didn't he?
No, for me it was typical of Rob Green. He's a good goalkeeper, sometimes goalkeepers have their good days and bad days but I think this was a normal performance. He made a great save from Modric, it wasn't easy - and he was good today.
All the team worked hard to keep our first clean sheet and against Tottenham, it's not so easy. But I must say also that Carlo Cudicini was very good today, he made some unbelievable saves.
He's taken such a battering to his confidence in general since the World Cup, to pull a performance like that out took something?
But this is the life of a sportsman; I didn't see any athlete or football player who was good all season. Even with our team, the first game against Aston Villa was not good then you saw we became stronger and stronger when people said we would become weaker and weaker.
And I think Robert showed today - in the only place that a sportsman needs to show, on the pitch - that he's a good goalkeeper.
Harry Redknapp said it was an end-to-end game; do you feel you dominated that game?
I think we were better. I think it was a good game because we were trying to play good football, Tottenham always want to play good since Harry came so it was a good football game. We saw the goalkeepers were very good in this game which means both teams were good - but I think we were better.
Having created so many chances but only converted one of them did you think Tottenham might come back in the second half?
You're always worried about these things. Remember what happened against Bolton, first half we deserved to win 4-0. Even against Stoke, we didn't score then the other team scored. Even against Chelsea, we started at 0-2, came back very good - and then they scored.
But we spoke about this with the team. One thing I'm very proud about with this team is that they are making mistakes but we learn from these very quickly. It's good because it's only the beginning of the season and we have a long, long way to [go to] reach our targets.
The two strikers seem to have a decent understanding?
Yes. The attitude is very good. Freddie I know from Portsmouth, he's a player that plays for the team, he's a team player. He works first for the team and then for himself. He got his reward when he scored a very good goal in the middle of the week and he scored again today. He worked hard.
Obinna is an intelligent player and as I've told you [before], the revision of the club is not just because of the financial situation but [also] to take players that are hungry to succeed and you saw a few of them together, including Barrera when he came on in the 40th minute.
There was talk after that Robert Green made a raised-arm gesture towards the press box? Were you aware of that?
What?
Someone said he went like this [raises fists] to the press box?
No, I didn't see that.
As if to say he's made his point, you know, 'that showed them'?
I don't know what he did. I know that - and I say to the players - when you are the owner of a restaurant or a politician you can say 'these are my results'. A footballer can perform and then you don't need to say anything after. I think his performance today was his best speech...
Are you aware that he's emotionally suffered, or may have been by what's been written about him?
I like emotions in sport. The first time I was in England I said to the owners that I don't want to be a cold fish. Football is emotional so if you come to the game without emotions it's not good.
I'm emotional also, you don't see it because in the game you need to control it but I think this is part of the passion of the game, you know. All of us in football, even you the journalists - well, most of you - are here because you like it. Am I right?
What was the problem with Kieron Dyer?
He was sick, he didn't feel so good. How do you call it... dizzy. But I think he played well.
After a very positive week do you think you've turned the corner now?
I think yes, because football is all about results at the end of the day. We deserved more points against Chelsea and against Bolton, but there is no 'deserve' in the table.
Two weeks ago we started to train with all the team together, for the first two weeks we were training without the injured players. We still have bad injuries - Behrami and Hitzlsperger - but they are good players.
But for the last two weeks we have all trained together and I think you can see the team develop all the time. I think we play like a team, quicker than I thought even.
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