Source: Telegraph
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson faces defining week but craves long-term success
But he dismisses notions that what happens against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, and against Juventus next Thursday, in the last 16 of the Europa League, will "define" his time as the club's manager. [LNB]"For me, I'm afraid, I will always preach: do a good job every week, work within your budget, stay in the Premier League and, if you are lucky enough to have the type of year we are having this year then embrace it. Take it happily, try and do something with it," Hodgson, a serial achiever, said. [LNB] Related ArticlesUtaka: FA Cup run can lift Portsmouth gloomThe FA Cup's greatest upsetWenger key to successFA Cup could get revampO'Neill: Villa commitment 'there in abundance'Sport on televisionThe Fulham manager, as any observer of his methods will understand, is not into the quick-fix, the day in the sun. He faces HR (Harry Redknapp) on Saturday, who won the trophy two years ago with Portsmouth, overstretching themselves disastrously to do so, but he is not into HP. [LNB]Indeed the 62 year-old launches a staunch defence of Mohamed Fayed, Fulham's owner, who would surely invest in one of his trademark, colourful shirts should his club reach a semi-final at Wembley Stadium. [LNB]"Not just a good businessman but a great businessman and he wants us to do well and has invested heavily in the club to help us to do well," Hodgson said. [LNB]"At the same time he has a very sensible business head and, like me, he does not want one moment of glory to be achieved by spending money that we cannot sustain. He wants sustainable success. [LNB]"If you ask me, what the success of Mohammed Al Fayed and Fulham Football Club is then it's a: saving the club from virtual extinction, then b: getting them into the Premiership and keeping them there for nine solid years and a 10th one if nothing untoward happens between now and May. [LNB]"That is a marvellous achievement. For me, achievements are something which are often brought about over a period of years. The true measure of a club's success is what it does week in, week out."[LNB]Which is all true, even if Fulham have also had their years of overspending, followed by prudence, by Hodgson in particular. [LNB]But which of their supporters is not dreaming, praying that the last trophy Hodgson picks up this season is not the manager of the month the second time he has been awarded the prize he collected on Friday for his achievements in February? [LNB]"All I can say is that it will be great for me and, more importantly, it will be great for this football team and this club because many of these players have been good professionals for a number of years, but they cannot really show you the CVs that their careers merit," he said. [LNB]"There are a lot of people in the team who are more deserving than me of a big moment in their football lives."[LNB]This tie probably the game of the round pits Hodgson against Redknapp, a manager he has known for some time and who he counts as a friend, and someone who "let him know" that Fulham's pursuit of Peter Crouch last summer was pointless. [LNB]"It was made clear to be early on, by Harry, that he [Crouch] was going to Tottenham. And as it turned out Bobby Zamora has had a wonderful season anyway. So I'm in no way regretful there."[LNB]Zamora is one of five former Spurs players in the Fulham ranks so is there extra motivation for them? [LNB]"When you meet an old club it's always a motivating factor but the chance to get to Wembley [for Fulham] for the first time in 25 years is motivation enough," Hodgson said. He has led a team out at Wembley once. [LNB]"I took Switzerland there for a friendly but my Wembley appearances have been limited," he explained. [LNB]Another one would highlight the remarkable body of work he has achieved at Fulham, where he took over with the team seemingly doomed to relegation and playing an unsophisticated style of football. [LNB]Hodgson has instituted a root-and-branch reform. It feels like a different club. "Over the last couple of years we have made a pretty clear statement of what we are about and what we want to be," he said. [LNB]There is clearly an excitement of what the next few days hold first Spurs, then Juve, with the added motivation for Hodgson, a former Inter Milan coach, of taking on a Serie A giant again. For once, his sober approach cracks. [LNB]"It's amazing that the two games are back to back," Hodgson said. "It's like when you are a kid and sometimes you get loads of sweets given to you at one time by your aunts and uncles and then you go weeks and don't see them again." [LNB]Fulham fans are in for a treat. [LNB]
