At Craven Cottage, where Fulham are still searching for their first Premier League win of the campaign, Álvaro Arbeloa faces two matches that could shape his immediate future. The Spanish coach has collected only two points from six league rounds, leaving the club bottom of the table ahead of meetings with Hull and Coventry.
The news from the club
Arbeloa has been questioned about speculation that failure to secure a victory could bring his time on Fulham’s bench to an end. He declined to make the situation about himself, stressing instead that the priority is the team and those around it.
“This is not about me,” he said. “It is about the club, the players and the supporters.”
The former Real Madrid player said he had not sought assurances from the Fulham board about his position. He described the build-up to the next fixture as routine, with the squad focused on preparation rather than reports around the manager.
“It has been a normal week,” Arbeloa explained. “We have worked hard and we are getting ready for a difficult game against difficult opponents. For me, it is another week.”
Asked again about the talk surrounding his job, the coach said his attention remained fixed on the following day’s match and on the players under his charge. He said he is waiting for the performances he sees from the side to become points on the board.
Arbeloa also defended his footballing approach after criticism of his substitutions in the match against Ipswich. He argued that the squad must retain belief in the style being developed, while accepting that every match must be reviewed for improvements.
Supporters, he said, remain central to the task facing the club. “They are the most important thing at this club,” Arbeloa said.
The coming fixtures
Fulham’s next two games, against Hull and Coventry, now carry added weight. With two points after six Premier League matches and no win yet recorded, Arbeloa’s side need their work on the training ground to finally produce the result their season has lacked.
