Fulham striker Hugo Rodallega has insisted that he will come good in front of goal for Fulham after a stuttering start to life at Craven Cottage
The striker, who has scored just once in seven appearances in all competitions for the Cottagers, insists that there is more to come from him and believes he will not let the pressure get the better of him.
“It’s my job to score goals, it’s what I am here to do. It’s also one of the things that I live for – it’s a beautiful feeling and one like no other on the football pitch,” he said.
“To see the fans celebrating after you have scored is like a revolution – and one that I have caused. It’s something that makes me very happy.
“At this level, scoring goals is a difficult thing to do. People expect strikers to score, it’s simple, and they are right. Of course, with that comes pressure, but that’s something that I have learned to live with.
“If anything that pressure inspires me, because if they expect good things, then it means I am a valuable player – one that can help make a difference in front of goal. You have to find ways of managing that pressure, and use it to your advantage.”
Rodallega says he is relishing the challenge of pushing Fulham up the league and again challenge for a spot in Europe.
“Joining Fulham is the biggest challenge of my career,” he added. “There were opportunities elsewhere, but I was excited by the prospect of playing for this club.
“For me, I really believe that we could challenge for a place in Europe again, and I want to help take the team to even greater things.
“There is a lot of quality in the squad, and if you look at the players that I am competing with for a place in the starting XI – Dimitar Berbatov, Mladen Petric and Bryan Ruiz – that is quite clear.”
The Colombian was more often than not the main man up front for Wigan but now finds himself in more of a squad role, battling for a starting spot with the aforementioned trio.
But the striker insists the competition is an added incentive and he is keen to banish the memories of previous club favourites Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele , who both left the club for Tottenham in the last few days of the transfer window.
He added: “Competition is good, though, I believe it can only improve you as a player. It keeps you on your toes and striving to be the best that you can be.
“I know the fans were disappointed to see Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembélé leave, because they were heroes here, but I want to make a similar impact and help them forget about that loss.”
