As Fulham prepares for their Premier League clash against Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on Saturday, manager Alvaro Arbeloa has shared insights on the team's new signings and the challenges they face at the start of the season.
In his pre-match news conference, Arbeloa confirmed that all players are available for selection except for Tom Cairney. He also mentioned the club's recent deadline-day signings: Hugo Larsson, Manuel Angel, and David Affengruber. While these new additions will be included in the squad, Arbeloa emphasized the need for patience as they adapt to the team's style of play. "Be patient with these three players - they need to understand what we want from them," he stated.
Both Larsson and Angel are expected to bolster Fulham's midfield, with Arbeloa noting, "They both are number eight in that position. I felt we needed something there, and both players are quality players that I think will improve us." Meanwhile, he highlighted Affengruber's strengths, describing him as strong, quick, and skilled with the ball, which will be beneficial for the team’s defense. "He is young but with experience," Arbeloa added, indicating his potential impact in the center-back role.
Reflecting on the overall summer transfer activity, Arbeloa expressed satisfaction with the squad's composition. "We are so happy with all the players that have joined us. We have a very good squad. I am very happy with the players that I have, and now it’s time to be focused on the next games, especially on tomorrow's game. My job is to improve my players. Now we know who we are and the team we want to be," he remarked.
One player who was close to leaving the club, right-back Kenny Tete, has decided to stay, and Arbeloa is pleased with this development. "He’s very happy to be here another season. He has experience and he knows perfectly the club. We’re happy with him," he noted.
Despite starting the league season with two consecutive defeats, Arbeloa remains optimistic about his team's potential. He praised the players' attitudes, stating, "I am very happy with the attitudes of my players. They are so open to learn, and we demand a lot from ourselves. I think this is the way because we will have bad days, like it was last Sunday [a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland], but even in those days we want people to recognize our team."
Addressing the pressure that comes with his first season at Fulham, Arbeloa acknowledged that such stress is inherent in football management. "Pressure is part of my job, it’s part of our job, but it doesn’t change anything about the way we have been working. The most important thing, for me, is that I work every day, try to improve and move on," he explained. He also mentioned the anticipation surrounding the search for their first three points of the season, recognizing the difficulty of their opening matches. "You can see that we have had a difficult start, but we are very confident in the way we have been working," he concluded.
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