On the banks of the Thames, Fulham’s difficult opening to the season has left Álvaro Arbeloa searching for his first win since arriving in west London in the summer. The former Real Madrid figure has taken only two points from his first six Premier League matches, and the latest setback — a 2-1 defeat to promoted Ipswich Town — has intensified the pressure around Craven Cottage.
A troubled start in west London
- Arbeloa joined Fulham after being dismissed by Real Madrid and spending a period without a club.
- His new side have gone six league games without a victory, drawing twice and losing the other four.
- Those two draws leave Fulham bottom of the Premier League table on two points.
- Yesterday’s 2-1 loss to Ipswich, newly promoted this season, further damaged the club’s early position.
Despite the growing scrutiny, Arbeloa struck a composed note after the Ipswich defeat. He said he does not allow concerns about his own employment to dictate his work.
“I never worry about my position. I am not afraid,” he said. “You cannot be a coach if you feel that way. You have to work, make decisions and show the players confidence. I am very pleased with many things the team are doing. I know it is not easy for them.”
Arbeloa puts Fulham first
The Spanish coach insisted that the central issue is Fulham’s standing rather than his own future, while accepting that the side must soon turn performances into points.
“It is not about my job, it is about Fulham’s situation, and that is what matters most,” Arbeloa said. “It is only six matches, of course, but we do need points.”
He also made clear that he believes he remains the right man to guide the club out of its present position. Arbeloa pointed to a career shaped by elite-level demands, first as a player and then as a coach at Real Madrid.
“Perhaps people do not know me, but I played for the best club in the world and coached the best club in the world,” he said. “Maybe they do not realise it, but pressure has been part of my life since I was a child.”
