Two crucial matches lie ahead for Arbeloa’s Fulham

Álvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham face two fixtures described as crucial to putting their situation back on track: Hull visit the club tomorrow, before Fulham travel to Coventry on Saturday 24. Both opponents are newly promoted. The Hull match is also listed for this Saturday, while the Coventry fixture comes in the following round.

Pressure on the manager has grown after he was fined 25,000 pounds for criticising the refereeing in the match against Manchester United. Several English media outlets have also reported that players do not understand his methods, suggesting that some in the dressing room may be trying to undermine him. Those reports have added to the scrutiny of Arbeloa as the next two games take on added importance for his project.

Fulham have also been punished by goals conceded after the 75th minute in four of their six matches played. Those late goals have affected results: a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, a 2-3 loss after leading against Crystal Palace, a 1-1 draw with Manchester United, and another comeback conceded against Ipswich Town in a 2-1 defeat.

At a press conference, Arbeloa brushed aside the rumours and focused on the immediate task: «Do I pay attention to the rumours? No, I’m focused on tomorrow’s match, my players, my team. That is what matters most. This is not about me. It is about the club, the fans.» He also said he was waiting for performances to translate into a result.

The coach believes his team are playing better than the table suggests. Some supporters, however, accuse him of failing to protect leads his team has created. Fan frustration has also been fuelled by Arbeloa’s comment that he felt no pressure, referring to his time at Real Madrid, which he called the best team in the world. The next two matches give Fulham a chance to respond on the pitch, while Arbeloa described the week as a normal period of hard work and preparation for a difficult game.