Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa insists the conversation should centre on the club and its players rather than his own position as the struggling side prepares to face Hull City at Craven Cottage at 15:00 BST on Saturday. According to BBC Sport, the 43-year-old Spaniard faces mounting pressure with his team bottom of the Premier League table on just two points after four defeats and two draws from their opening six matches.
Despite speculation that another loss could cost him his job, Arbeloa characterised the week as unremarkable. "It is not about me, it is about the club, the players and the supporters," he said. "It is not about my future. Like I said before, it is about the club and my players. They are looking for the reward and looking for a game where they can get a win for the supporters, they deserve it because of their support. It is important for all of us."
Fulham's recent performances have offered glimpses of promise that have ultimately ended in disappointment. Against Ipswich Town last weekend, the team took a 1-0 lead through Ryan Sessegnon's second-half goal and appeared positioned to secure their first victory of the campaign, only for two late goals to overturn the result at Portman Road. Similarly, before the international break, Fulham seemed destined to claim three points against Manchester United until a deflected Matheus Cunha strike in the closing moments denied them.
Arbeloa arrived at Fulham in the summer on a three-year contract to replace Marco Silva, who departed for Benfica after five years in charge. The former Liverpool full-back came with strong endorsements from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and returning head coach Jose Mourinho, under whom he had played at the Spanish club. His Real Madrid side finished second in La Liga after he took over in January, though they were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.
However, Arbeloa's transition to English football has proven challenging. Reports indicate that Arbeloa changed Fulham's formation and left out centre-back Joachim Andersen, with the arrivals of Gonzalo García, César Palacios and Manuel Ángel from Real Madrid reportedly causing discontent among some players. Despite these difficulties, Fulham have progressed to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup, with their home tie against Crystal Palace scheduled for this month.
Can the players maintain their commitment for a full match?
When asked whether he is confident the players have the backing to execute his plans, Arbeloa pointed to their recent efforts.
They did for many minutes against Ipswich. We did against Manchester United and we did against Liverpool (in their 0-0 draw at Anfield). For me, we need to try to keep that level for 90 minutes, that is important.He also noted the dedication shown in training.
I saw the commitment of the players in how they have been training. They are so focused on tomorrow's game.
What lies ahead for Arbeloa?
Fulham are scheduled to host Hull City on 17 October, then visit Coventry City on 24 October. If Arbeloa navigates the test against Hull, he will face his third promoted side in succession, as Fulham travel to Championship winners Coventry City in the league the following weekend.
The broader context of Arbeloa's position
There is no escaping the reality that Arbeloa faces a potentially pivotal weekend. Just six Premier League games into his tenure, doubts about his appointment have begun to surface. His tactical methods have not resonated uniformly with the squad, and his handling of certain players has generated surprise within the dressing room. Ultimately, results will determine his future at the club. Without a league win and with Fulham sitting at the bottom of the table with two points, another poor performance against Hull on Saturday will intensify internal scrutiny of his position. Fulham's director of football operations Tony Khan is understandably keen for the appointment to prove successful, having taken a calculated risk on a manager with limited proven experience at the highest level.
