Grant on... Arsenal

  • by Staff Writer
  • Sunday, 16th January 2011

Avram Grant faces a barrage of questions regarding his future from the assembled pack in tonight's full, unedited post-match press conference...

[Opening question from SkySports] Avram: you'll have been aware of all the reports throughout the day. Was that your last game as West Ham manager?

Why do you ask me this question?

Because the reports throughout the day have been that this would be your last game and Martin O'Neill would be lined up to replace you.

Where were the reports?

Various outlets...

On your TV [station]?

Yes.

So you know who gave you the rumours? Ask the person. Why do you ask me?

As far as you're concerned then, is it business as usual? You expect to be coming back here Monday morning as West Ham manager?

I think you need to ask someone who gave you the rumours. I don't understand why you're asking me. When I will give you something, ask me.

Have you asked about the rumours of your owners then?

I say to you again, you need to ask the person who gave you the rumours. I don't understand why you ask me.

They continue to come out; the reports are said to come from a source within the club. Have you gone to anyone to seek assurances about your future?

I don't know why you're asking me, really. You say a source gave you this - ask the source. You can ask me about things that concern the team.

You're still the manager then, Avram?

I'm speaking with you now, no?

It was quite symbolic that you threw your scarf into the crowd; why did you do that?

If you were awake you would have seen that I've done it every time in the last [few] games. I always throw my scarf to the children that are there.

I must say today that it was more emotional because to see the supporters and their reaction after the game was three-zero, it was so supportive. I cannot say that it wasn't touching to see this. So I did what I did but with the scarf I did it also after the games before, including [last] Tuesday.

A pretty unusual afternoon; a 3-0 defeat against Arsenal when you're bottom of the Premier League table - and time is running out for the club in the Premier League - to do something like that?

I think you need to respect the supporters. When you see so many supporters stay after the game and support the club you need to respect them.

What's it like for you personally to be the subject of all this speculation?

Look, I live my life to do my job. I have a job to do here. I cannot say that it's helped, I'll be honest with you - but still I need to do my job and that's what's important. You didn't ask me more than one question until now about the game. The game is what's most important.

But you can understand it, I mean...

[interrupts] Yeah I understand, I fully understand.

Because it's a results business, you're bottom of the league - it happens to every manager, not just you. We've seen, in the last couple of weeks, loads of managers lose their jobs becasue of results. Are you concerned?

I have my opinion if it's happened to other managers more or less in our position in the Premier League. I understand your questions, but you cannot ask me a question when someone has given you some information and you ask me this... I don't understand. You can ask me only about information that I give you.

Okay...

And the only thing I can give you that I'm very happy with the boys today, there's not many times when you lose you're happy. We played without so many players, especially in midfield where all our first choice - even some second choice - didn't play. The players who played instead played against a very good team. [They] gave everything and the effort was good against Arsenal, who are a very good side. We almost scored two goals in the first half so I think the effort was great from the players and that's important for me.

Have you asked the directors if they are speaking to potential managers to replace you?

I'm doing my job, I'm not asking questions.

Do you still expect to be here on Monday morning then?

[PA] I think we're asking the same questions over and over here.

Avram I must ask you - have you ever been tempted to resign becasue of the way you've been treated?

When I'm at a club like West Ham - and you know what's happened in the last year also - you know that the club is not in a good situation and my job is to go in a [positive] direction and make the club better. Even though we are bottom, if you look [at] what we've done in the last three weeks and before, I think we are doing the right things.

But the most important thing is the football - and for football we need a squad. We have a lot of injuries; you saw that two or three players that were on the bench today were youngsters; three others only trained one day, like Benni McCarthy, in the last month. My opinion is that even with this situation we are very close to escaping from [the] relegation [zone] - but for this we need a squad.

Unfortunately our squad is a squad that has a lot of injuries, again and again - and we're finding it very difficult. This is the reason why I wanted a midfield player and this is the reason why we want one more striker because we only had two in the squad [today]. i'm busy only with this, not with other things.

If you look back at your period in charge, how would you assess your own performance? Do you think you've underachieved?

I think if you look, there are seven teams more or less in our position, let's say two or three points... It's not a big difference. I think we're dealing with a big, big problem and I think when we can make things right on and off the pitch it will also give us more points - and that's what's important. I think we've been dealing with it very well and even though we are bottom [of the league] we are not a team that plays like it's bottom. We play better.

You talked about needing to strengthen your squad. With that i mind do you expect to be going back to the owners on Monday, or over the next couple of days, with your ideas of who you'd like to bring in?

I think they know my ideas and they are trying. We've brought Wayne Bridge [in], we are dealing with a lot. Some players - like Sidwell who I wanted in very much and could have played today in midfield - we couldn't do. So we are dealing with it and we are trying to do it because I feel, even today against Arsenal, if we had everybody [available] it would have been easier.

You say you need a midfield player and you mention Steve Sidwell. Karren Brady said you don't, so how do you get around that?

[sighs loudly] You ask me... I will not answer questions about other people because I speak with the owners and they are trying to deal with this situation, we're trying to bring players in. But I will not speak about other things. Sorry.

What's the injury situation with Wayne Bridge and Mark Noble?

I don't know yet, we need to wait and see. Mark Noble has played a lot of games after his [recent] injury and it's affected him a little bit. He's a very good player and he did well for us - also on Tuesday. Wayne Bridge hasn't played for a long time so we need to see how he is.

How do you think Wayne did today? He had a troubled time, didn't he?

It wasn't easy to play today against Arsenal and everybody tried their best. Everybody gave 100 per cent, including Wayne.

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