For those who think Roy Hodgson’s a little too cautious and pragmatic, these are some rather interesting quotes from the Fulham manager before our game at Old Trafford later today.
We are stretched in terms of personnel. This is a testing time for the durability of the side and it’s important that we give our best for the matches that remain despite the tiredness.
We have to give our best for the large number of matches that do remain because that’s what our season requires of us and I’m sure the players will deliver what’s required of them when I ask them to step up to the plate again.
It’s great to be in Turin and then to play Manchester United at Old Trafford and then go back to playing Juventus at home. I think this is a great reward for the players for all the hard work they’ve put in this season and they certainly won’t let themselves down on Sunday.
That last point is the one for me. The squad’s been stretched to the limit several times this season and several players have come in and done very well indeed. More to the point, I see this second leg against Juventus – with the tie still very much alive if you ask me – as a fitting reward for all the work undertaken by Roy, his staff and, of course, the players over the course of the last couple of seasons. It’s runs of mouthwatering fixtures like the ones we are set to embark on that make finishing higher up the league so important.
