Can you start by giving us team news
I think in the main we are okay [regarding injuries]. Gianluca Scamacca is the one player who is not available. We have a few knocks and bruises from midweek but that is to be expected. Hopefully, we will be fine, and we will have pretty much the same squad again.
Have you heard back from the referee’s body?
I’ve spoken to Howard Webb and his team, yes I have.
Are you happy to share any more information?
No, the conversation was private and that will remain that way.
What have you made of what Roy Hodgson has done over the last few weeks?
I didn’t know if I thought he was mad when he came back in but Roy Hodgson has an incredible passion for the game. He is so experienced. And I can understand why he is working and why people would want him to work for them because he is such a good manager and coach. And he has proved it in his early results with Crystal Palace. I hope that we can win the game because it is so important for us. I think Roy has done a terrific job.
Roy says 40 points is the magic number, what do you make of that as a target?
I think everybody targets 40 points because in history we see it as a number which usually gives you safety. And I think Roy is right in what he says and that we all have to push for that points total whether you need to reach that [to stay up] is up for debate.
Do you think you can get the points vs Palace?
We are searching for five or six wins between now and the end of the season. That’s what we are doing, we are not just looking for one. We have got to give everything we can. And we have had some really good form away from home recently. We had a couple of good games away and if we can continue to build on that and keep our performance levels high, which they have been recently, it will give us every chance.
Positive elements vs Liverpool
I thought we did a lot of good things against Liverpool. We were competitive and we took a good side quite close in the end. And we had a couple of decisions which did not quite go in our favour. Sometimes when you play those sorts of sides you need that. But on the night we didn’t get them and it was just a turning point because we had a 2-2 against Arsenal and we couldn’t quite get the 2-2 against Liverpool. And in the end, we maybe deserved it but we didn’t get it.
Lucas Paqueta is playing with lots of freedom and great consistency
Paqueta is beginning to get used to the Premier League. We can say about many, many players that it takes time. And I still think he has a good bit to go yet. I think there is much more to come from him. Much more improvement is needed from him. But I have to say, it is good he is getting some goals because it is just helping us with the situation we are in at present.
Are you enjoying the European journey?
Getting to another European semi-final for a second-year running is quite incredible really. So yes, we would like to be in a healthier league position so that maybe we could concentrate totally on it. But ultimately, we have to take one game at a time. Our focus is 100 per cent on the game against Crystal Palace. We are not considering the European game now, but it has given us a boost in getting to another semi-final.
How important is it to be resilient against Crystal Palace
I think having to be resilient defensively is important every week. I thought we gave away a couple of cheap goals in midweek, but I have to say against Bournemouth and Fulham in recent weeks we have done a good job. [Against Crystal Palace] we have to try and keep a clean sheet and hope we can also come up with the goals.
Impressed with Crystal Palace despite defeat to Wolves?
It has proved to be a great thing for Crystal Palace and for Roy as well who loves the game and wants to be involved with the game. And rightly so, he should be. Because he has been such a good coach over so many years.
Are West Ham still in a relegation battle?
We are in a position in the league which we would rather not be in. But we have to keep picking up points and we have to try and climb up the table. Our aim is to get as high up the table as we possibly can.
