"Sometimes the players' commitment is talked about, and for this I hope that on Saturday we can play much better, with more passion, and more heart, working harder on the pitch and trying to get results," he says.
"Of course I am still optimistic - I am thinking positively because we can do better and we need the points quickly.
"I think the players want to give passion because I don't think there is a player who can't think of playing without passion.
"But sometimes I understand it is difficult to play in that situation because when you go 2-0 down after eight minutes against a side like Liverpool as we did it is not easy to react - for any player; so it was difficult for everybody, and we have to reduce the mistakes to a minimum.
"We have to believe in it, but I don't want only hope - anybody can hope with words, but we have to really show it.
"We have a team with experience, young players, talent - and we can come out of this situation; I know there is not a lot of time but in the next few games we can do it, I am sure.
"Of course we have to show it in every game now and we can't wait two, three, four, five games because we are not at the beginning of the season.
"But I think positively because we have the players and we are strong - and if we play with the right commitment we are better than many others in the league.
"But now is the time to play at our level - and I think we can do it from Saturday."
The fact that Paolo always says exactly what he thinks - rather than what people necessarily want to hear - proves that it is not empty rhetoric from the Hammers captain.
That should serve as encouragement for those fans whose belief is wavering as the clock ticks down on the end of the season.
"I think we have a chance to stay up because the team is good; the next four games will tell us if have a good chance to, and we can do it," he insists.
"I can understand if the fans are depressed because after Wednesday they thought we should repeat the same performance, but of course when you go down 2-0 with eight minutes gone, against a good team with good players and an ability to play possession football, it was more easy for them to handle the situation.
"We can't wait for the last two games of the season so we must start from Leeds, and I think we can do it.
"Every game now is vital because every match is dependent on what we do and the other teams as well - each one is crucial.
"There are 12 games to play and we need to win a few of them; I don't know how many, but the power is in our hands and if we win a lot of games we will stay up.
"At this moment we are in a position where we have to win and look what Bolton, West Brom, Sunderland, and Birmingham are doing.
"At this moment we have to win, win, win and then after the victories see if the others have drawn or lost."
Paolo, of course, never shirks responsibility, and, talking about the defeat against Liverpool, he doesn't try to make excuses.
"I say I am sorry; we tried but it is not easy and against Liverpool you can lose, though ideally not the way we did," he says candidly.
"After half time there was a little reaction and we created some chances with Fredi and me; it was not enough, but, like Wednesday, we have to put it aside.
"The first goal was from a corner kick - the player jumped alone without a challenge on him, but it is not just one mistake.
"Going a goal down so easily like that makes it difficult, but also up front we should have given more, I think.
"But it is about 11 players, plus the bench, and we have to play like Wednesday as a team and try to give our best.
"It was not a good day with everyone expecting something better, to at least stay in the game rather than go two goals down after eight minutes.
"It was difficult to try to find a way to score, but there are 12 games, we are in the same situation as before Wednesday before the game, four points off safety and the same distance."
Paolo did not get carried away by the win over Blackburn, so he is not going to press the panic button after the Liverpool game.
"I told you we had to forget the win quickly after the Blackburn game - now that applies to the defeat against Liverpool, and we have to work hard from tomorrow morning for the Leeds game," he says.
"Now we have to concentrate on the game against Leeds and then against West Brom where we have to get a minimum of four points, I think.
"We accept it and try to minimise the mistakes we do, at least try to learn for the next game against Leeds which will be very, very hard.
"It is difficult for everybody, not only Glenn; on Wednesday we were happy for him because he was the one suffering more than anybody because he tries to work hard and we try to work hard for him as well - as well as the supporters, of course.
"There are less games left, of course, but I think Birmingham are under pressure with games against Manchester United and Chelsea coming up so if we start to get points from Saturday at Leeds, it could change - if we get a good result there we can start to get a run and play with more confidence."
As for the fitness, and the return of Fredi concurrently with Paolo, he adds:
"Me and Fredi were out for a while and I just came back on Wednesday; it is normal that you can't do everything in a day or three.
"I need two or three games and that was the second; I was not happy with the way I played but I managed 90 minutes of running and trying to challenge for the ball.
"That is just a personal thing, and Saturday, the third game, will mean I can find the pace, I hope.
"I think Fredi can come back soon fit and we will have four good strikers, as we have good players in the middle."
He thinks that Lee Bowyer will realise his potential soon, and adds:
"Lee has played four games now and is understanding the way we play, and I am thinking positive because we have too much talent."