Frank De Boer has said he is still the right man to coach Inter Milan, in spite of reports that Wednesday night's clash with Torino could be his last at the helm of the Serie A club.
The Nerazzurri have lost three games in a row, taking the total number of defeats this season to six in 12 matches in all competitions.
"It's a very delicate situation and it's normal when we've lost three games in a row in the league -- this cannot happen at a big club like Inter, but we can change this situation and the only way you can do that is with hard work, with the coaches, the players, the club and everybody and then I'm convinced this very delicate situation will change," De Boer said at a news conference in Milan.
"I'm a bit tired of talking about these things. All that matters to me are my players and my team. All I have in my mind is 'how can we change this situation?' It's a very difficult moment, the team, club and coaches have all got to be very united to change this situation.
"For me it's just a matter of time and we can change. I know it's very difficult because in football, you don't get much time. But this is the way it is. All I can do is focus on the game against Torino.
"We've started a project that we knew would not be easy because this club have not won a title in five years, so we want to change this, and change it this season. The club, [owners] Suning, know this and they realise this is a difficult moment, but they have all the confidence that we are doing our best for Inter and this is important for me. It's not that changing me they would resolve all their problems. Another coach would find himself in the same situation."
De Boer took over the reins from Roberto Mancini just over a week before the start of the season and he said this lack of time has hampered him, but added he nevertheless feels he is getting through to his players and they are understanding the style he wants them to play.
"I certainly feel I have [control of] the team," the Dutchman said. "I have a lot of faith in the team and we know that we need to improve a lot, especially the way we played our last game, but I have a lot of confidence that we can change because that was only one game that we played really badly. It can happen.
"We've shown in many games that we can play how we want to play. I've seen many moments of an Inter side that I want to see."
There have been reports that club bosses met on Monday and already took the decision to sack De Boer, although they are waiting until later on this week to make an official announcement.
The former Ajax coach dismissed that suggestion, saying that he still feels their full support.
"The bosses have been here every day and we're always talking on and off the field," he said. "We are always in a very comfortable atmosphere. They have an opinion and I have my opinion, but there is no problem -- I feel the confidence of the owners, of Suning. At the moment this is very important, not just for me but for the team. We need confidence in this moment.
"I don't want to think about this, I just want to think about the best way to prepare the team for this game and then we must think of something else. I'm always very positive. I have a lot of faith in the team and that we can change this moment. We knew it would be a difficult project and, in a difficult time, they have got to stand by their coach and I feel they are doing this."
With just 11 games from their first nine games of the season, Inter find themselves in the bottom half of the table, four points behind Torino.
De Boer said it is not the situation he wanted to, or expected to be in, yet he does not regret anything he has done.
"I like it a lot here in Italy, in Milan and at Inter because I feel respected by the fans," he said. "Life is very good here, all the conditions here are perfect for living very well, not just privately but also at work. I've got everything I need here to do a good job."