Chris Coleman isn’t worried by Fulham’s pre-season form after the Whites last their latest friendly at home to Rangers.
The Londoners were beaten by a spectacular Dado Prso goal and have failed to score in their three matches that have marked the club’s return to Craven Cottage. Fulham were held to a goalless draw by Watford, lost 2-0 to Celtic and were edged out by Rangers but Coleman is concentrating on building up his team’s fitness whilst slowly integrating summer signings. Andy Cole got a brief run out against Rangers.
Coleman is currently mulling over his best eleven and how to manage the demands of a packed pre-season programme.
The Fulham boss said: “I know the team in my mind I would like to start, but one or two of the players that I would like to start are not firing at the minute. But we have got three more games and a little bit of time in pre-season and it is up to me to get them as fit as I can and in the right frame of mind. We have got a good team now I think, a good depth in the squad and once we have got the players back to fitness, I am really looking forward to the season.”
He hinted at the arrival of another signing before the start of the new campaign.
I think there is a possibility we can bring in another player, I would like to. I think we need to. I would say possibly in midfield, but we will have to wait and see. We have lost Martin Djetou, lost Junichi Inamoto, so we are still a body down. I think it is always good to bring in new faces, it freshens things up. I have a great bunch of lads, but every now and again we are all guilty of taking our foot off the gas and getting complacent. When you bring in new faces, then it gives everyone a bit of a livener. I am delighted with the guys we have got, and if I can bring in one more, I will be happy.”
The Fulham supremo is pleased with the workout Fulham have received at the hands of the Old Firm outfits.
We will have had four Scottish friendlies and the reason for that is they are similar in terms of pace of the game and the power to the Premiership and that is why we wanted to play Celtic and Rangers. They were good, tough games and we knew that we would be stretched.
“We could go to Sweden, play a non-league team and win 5-0 – but I am not going to learn anything from that and neither are my players. You learn a lot more from playing the likes of Celtic and Rangers, even if you get beaten. If we are to get off to a good start against Manchester City, the next three friendlies are very important and we need to improve on our performance.”
