Friday 20 March 2015 11:21, UK
Sunderland's new head coach Dick Advocaat says there is enough talent in the squad to preserve their Premier League status.
The 67-year-old, who replaced Gus Poyet for the final nine games of the season on Tuesday, has spent the last three days working with his players ahead of Saturday's trip to West Ham.
With a point separating them from the bottom three, the Dutchman faces a tough task and he told the club's website: "We have nine games to go and are still a point ahead, so we have everything in our own hands.
We have already had a lot of talking with the players, and the training sessions. The atmosphere is very positive - but in football it is all about result
"There is enough quality in this squad to stay up. We have a difficult programme, as do the other teams, but it's all up to us and I have a good feeling about it."
The hugely experienced Advocaat held a team meeting on Thursday and while his message was positive, he pulled no punches as he addressed the consequences of failure and life in the Championship.
He added: "You can't throw everything in, but I have talked with some individuals and the team together. We had a team meeting.
"Keeping this team in the league is the most important thing. As I said to the players, it's quite simple. This is a big, big club - do you want to play in the other league?
"With this club, this stadium, you cannot play in the lower league. I think they realise how important it is."
It has proved to be a whirlwind week for the much-travelled Dutchman, who arrived on Wearside at sporting director Lee Congerton's invitation within hours of Poyet's departure on Monday, and took his first training session the following morning.
He said: "So far everything is going the right way and it's been a short week. It started with the call from Lee on Monday, a late afternoon flight to have discussions and we stayed after that.
"We have already had a lot of talking with the players, and the training sessions. The atmosphere is very positive - but in football it is all about results.
"The most positive thing is that the players look bright. But if you don't get results, then that is not so important."
Follow Dick Advocaat's first Sunderland press conference on SSNHQ and in our live blog from around 11am on Friday, and watch his first game in charge on Sky Sports 1 on Saturday - kick-off at 5:30pm.
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