Aaron Hughes admits that he doesn’t know too much about NSI Runavik but still expects Fulham to progress in their Europa League first qualifying round tie.
The Northern Ireland centre back is one of the few Fulham players who have played in the Faroe Islands previously, having been part of his country’s side that drew with the Nordic minnows’ national side 1-1 alongside Chris Baird. Despite that shock result, Hughes is confident that Fulham can record a victory in new manager Martin Jol’s first game in charge.
I don’t know a great deal about them. We have not had a chance to look at them too much this week because it has more been about preparation on the football pitch and a little bit of top-up on fitness.
I guess in the meeting before the game anything that the lads inside have found they will highlight and give us an idea before we go out. It is as much about focusing about what we do and making sure we do all the basic things right, which should be enough to take us through.
Jol wants his side to play attacking football to entertain the 12,000 fans who have already bought tickets for tonight’s game.
I do not want to concede too many goals and play attractive football because that is what our supporters want. That is probably the same at Spurs. You have a kind of culture and style that you play for the crowds and that is what we try to do here.
We have got a few youngsters in the squad so of course there is four or five players not here, they are on holiday so it is a nice opportunity for these youngsters to show and prove themselves. I can’t imagine going out in the first round but it is football so you never know.
You could say that it is 90% sure that we go through but you still have to do the business and our players know that.
