Arbeloa Focuses Fulham on Crucial Hull Clash Amid Job Pressure
Alvaro Arbeloa has kept his focus on Fulham’s Saturday meeting with Hull, insisting the relegation-threatened club and its players matter more than mounting scrutiny over his own future.
Arbeloa concentrates on Hull test
Fulham go into the game at the foot of the Premier League after taking just two points from their opening six fixtures. Reports have suggested Arbeloa could lose his job if the Cottagers fail to beat newly promoted Hull, but the Spaniard said preparations had not changed.
The former Real Madrid coach, appointed at Craven Cottage during the summer, had already labelled the Hull match a final. He said his attention was solely on the next game, his squad and the team’s needs.
Arbeloa stressed that the situation was bigger than one manager, pointing to the club, supporters and players as the priority while Fulham search for the result their performances have yet to deliver.
Late Ipswich collapse leaves Fulham bottom
Pressure intensified after last weekend’s defeat at Ipswich. Fulham led 1-0 with three minutes remaining but were beaten late, extending their winless start.
- Fulham are bottom of the Premier League.
- The side have collected two points from six matches.
- They were leading at Ipswich shortly before the final whistle before losing.
- Hull arrive as a newly promoted opponent for Saturday’s crucial fixture.
Manager wants full-match standard
Arbeloa believes his players have already shown they can carry out the tactical plan, citing periods of the Ipswich match as well as displays against Manchester United and Liverpool.
His demand is for Fulham to sustain that level across the full 90 minutes rather than allow games to slip away. He said he had seen commitment in training this week and felt the squad were fully locked in on the Hull challenge.
What happens next
Fulham face Hull on Saturday needing a first league win of the campaign. A positive result would provide immediate relief after their damaging start; another setback is likely to intensify the questions surrounding Arbeloa’s position.
