Source: Team_Talk
Hard work is paying off - Dempsey
Fulham forward Clint Dempsey has declared the Cottagers' season a success no matter what happens over the coming week.[LNB] After their marathon trip to Hamburg, Roy Hodgson's men are back on the road again on Sunday when they tackle Everton, who have not given up hope of landing a European berth themselves next season following confirmation Portsmouth will not be allowed to enter.[LNB]But Fulham could hardly be blamed for looking slightly further ahead to Thursday's semi-final second leg with Hamburg, arguably the biggest game in the club's history.[LNB]After a 0-0 draw in the first leg Fulham are fancied to progress to May's final, but even if they do not, having come so far in a competition they began back in July and with mid-table security already established in the Premier League, Dempsey feels his team-mates will deserve a pat on the back.[LNB]"No matter what happens now we have already had a good season," said the United States international.[LNB]"I am not surprised at how well we are doing. We work hard and when you put in work like that it shows."[LNB]Danny Murphy has already gone public with Fulham's plan to rest key players at Goodison Park to try to keep some freshness in the team ahead of their date with destiny.[LNB]If past history is any guide, Nicky Shorey and Manchester United-bound Chris Smalling will both be involved against the Toffees, along with Stefano Okaka.[LNB]Fulham have never won at Everton in the league, a record which looks unlikely to be broken in the circumstances.[LNB]What Hodgson will be looking is some goals after going three matches without finding the net, even if the Fulham boss is not so concerned.[LNB]"They have not been easy games," he said. "We had a goalless draw at Liverpool, which most people would regard as a positive result, and drawing in Hamburg was pretty creditable as well.[LNB]"It was disappointing not to score against Wolves last weekend but maybe our minds were already on the Hamburg game.[LNB]"I am not too concerned because we have goals in the team."[LNB]Hodgson can only hope that by making changes for such a tough game he is injecting his side with a group of players with something to prove.[LNB]Even for a manager of his capabilities though, it seems a pretty hard job given the proximity of the two games and what is at stake.[LNB]"We are so close to making the final and you don't get many opportunities to do that," said Dempsey. "It would be great for Fulham but it would also be great for the players who are putting in the work every week.[LNB]"We have come this far. We will be doing everything we can to make sure we are there."
