EPL: Arbeloa demands 90-minute focus as Fulham seek first victory

Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has emphasized that his future is not the focus as the team strives for their first league win of the season against Hull City on Saturday. The Premier League club currently sits at the bottom of the table with just two points from six matches, after a mix of draws and defeats. With the pressure mounting on Arbeloa, speculation swirls around his potential dismissal if Fulham suffers another loss when they host Hull at Craven Cottage.

However, the 43-year-old defender downplayed concerns, insisting that the team's performance should be the priority, not his future. Arbeloa emphasized that the focus is on the club, the players, and the supporters, stating, "It is not about my future. As I said before, it is about the club and my players." The Fulham manager's side narrowly missed securing their first win of the campaign against Ipswich Town last weekend, with two late goals sealing a 2-1 defeat.

Similarly, they squandered a potential victory against Manchester United in the previous match, with Matheus Cunha's deflected late goal denying them a win. Arbeloa expressed his players' eagerness to reward their supporters for their unwavering support, saying, "They are looking for the reward and looking for a game where they can get a win for the supporters; they deserve it because of their support."

The Spanish manager joined Fulham in the summer on a three-year contract, replacing Marco Silva after a brief stint as Real Madrid's interim head coach. Despite the challenging start, Fulham have advanced to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup and will face Crystal Palace at home this month. When asked about player commitment to Arbeloa's plans, he pointed to their performances against Ipswich, Manchester United, and Liverpool, where Fulham secured a goalless draw at Anfield.

Arbeloa stressed the importance of maintaining their level of performance for the entire 90 minutes. He also highlighted the players' commitment in training ahead of the crucial match, noting, "I saw the commitment of the players in how they have been training. They are so focused on tomorrow’s game." A positive result against Hull would provide Fulham with some respite and alleviate the pressure on the manager ahead of their upcoming difficult fixture against Championship winners Coventry City next weekend.