Hodgson wants to give neighbours the Blues

23 August 2009 11:18
Roy Hodgson admits Fulham's rivalry with Chelsea may not be the fiercest in football, but believes his players need no extra motivation to cause an upset over their south London counterparts on Sunday. His side began their Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth last week and the 62-year-old has admitted the Cottagers will have to up their game to beat a side tipped for title glory. Hodgson concedes there is not as much animosity between the two clubs as some local derbies, but he insists the desire to grab a shock win is nevertheless strong. "I don't think it's a bitter rivalry between the two clubs. I don't get that feeling," said Hodgson. "Last year Chelsea offered us the chance to train at their training ground when the weather was bad. If there was a really bitter rivalry then they wouldn't do that. "The only rivalry is on the pitch and the big question is can we, as underdogs, create the kind of stir that Burnley created the other night by beating one of the title favourites? "It's a great spur for us, a great challenge and a great motivation. We certainly won't need motivating but what we will need to do is play very well and play even better than we have done in the last four games because the opponent is certainly a step or two higher than the ones we have come across so far."

Source: Eurosport