Source: SKY_Sports
Hangeland leads Hodgson praise
Fulham defender Brede Hangeland believes manager Roy Hodgson is finally getting the recognition he deserves.
The much-travelled Craven Cottage boss has brought Fulham from the brink of relegation to making a mark on the European stage in less than two years.
The job the former Finland coach has done in West London has prompted interest from Scandinavia once more, with Sweden and Norway enquiring about his services.
However, Hodgson remains committed to his cause at Fulham, leaving Norway international Hangeland relieved to remain under his guidance.
"I don't see anybody doing a better job at the moment so I'm relieved to have him," Hangeland told the News of the World.
"I think he is more valued abroad than he is here but I think that is beginning to change a little bit.
"People have seen what a good job he's done with Fulham. He's an honest, hard-working manager. I have the greatest respect for him.
"It's not surprising he was linked with the Norway and the Sweden jobs. What can I say? He's worked there and he's a great manager.
"It would be surprising if they did not mention him but it's not my decision. I haven't had a word with him but if he went I hope he'd go to Norway so he could still be my manager but I hope he stays, of course."
City fixtureHodgson's side take on high-flyers Manchester City on Sunday at Eastlands, the venue which proved the turning point in Fulham's fortunes in the 2007/08 campaign when they avoided relegation with an away win.
Much has changes since that 3-2 win for the Cottagers, with City now establishing themselves as a genuine force to be reckoned with in the Premier League, but Hangeland insists they travel with confidence.
He said: "Even though they are a bigger club and on paper have better players than us, it's possible to get results up there."
"Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez will be a handful of course. But the strikers we come up against every week are a handful."
Fulham narrowly missed out on a famous win over Roma on Thursday after a last-gasp equaliser earned Italian giants a 1-1 draw, but Hangeland insists the result proves they can cut it with the best.
"We know when we do our job well and play as a team we can get results against most teams," he said.
"We proved that against Roma and we will try to do it again on Sunday. We've won two years in a row up there. So it's very far from impossible."
