Source: Team_Talk
Pantsil backs Hughes for Euro bid
Fulham defender John Pantsil has backed new Cottagers manager Mark Hughes to lead the club back into European competition.[LNB] Pantsil is convinced Hughes, who will be officially unveiled by the club on Tuesday, can build on everything Roy Hodgson achieved at Craven Cottage before leaving for Liverpool.[LNB]Against remarkable odds, Hodgson guided Fulham from the brink of relegation to the Europa League final in the space of two and a half seasons.[LNB]Hughes, the former Wales, Blackburn and Manchester City manager, has now taken over the reins and Pantsil is convinced Fulham will only go from strength to strength.[LNB]"I have said many times that Roy Hodgson was someone that made me the player that I am today, and for that I am very grateful. But we have to move on - this is what happens in football," said Pantsil.[LNB]"The appointment of Mark Hughes is a very exciting one, and I'm looking forward to seeing how this team evolves under his guidance.[LNB]"He's a very good manager and I think most of the players have come up against his teams in the past and from those experiences we know that he has a lot of quality. He's someone that commands a lot of respect and is tactically very astute.[LNB]"It's not long now until the new season gets up and running. This will be my third as a Fulham player and I'm very excited about what could unfold.[LNB]"It will be a challenge, but for me I would love to see the club push as close as they can for a top six finish.[LNB]"I believe in this squad of players and we have shown before what we can achieve as a team.[LNB]"I know that people will say that it will be difficult, but we have to be ambitious and have belief in our ability - otherwise what is the point in going out there?"[LNB]Fulham complete their pre-season preparations against Werder Bremen at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
