Source: Telegraph
Roy Hodgson and Fulham eager for Manchester City clash after Juventus victory
The 62 year-old had just masterminded the greatest night in the club's history, Thursday's astounding 4-1 Europa League victory over Juventus, but there were to be no celebrations, and no relenting in the demands he puts on his team. [LNB]"The second thing that came out of his mouth after 'well done' in the dressing room was 'Manchester City on Sunday'," laughed midfielder Dickson Etuhu. "Do you think our manager would let us ease off against City? No way." [LNB] Related ArticlesFulham v Man City: match previewFulham 4 Juventus 1; agg 5-4Ten more great English victories over Italian clubsFulham prove talk of the townZebina blasts Juventus fansHodgson: surely it can't get any better than thisThat is the way of Fulham. The rigid discipline that has characterised their success since Hodgson took charge in Dec 2007 is mirrored off the pitch. [LNB]Juventus and Shakhtar Donetsk could not live with the intensity of a team that is more than the sum of its parts, with Roberto Mancini's City the latest to travel to Craven Cottage. [LNB]And City old boy Etuhu is clear about what the visitors will have waiting for them. [LNB]"Who comes to Fulham and gets an easy ride?" he asked. "I'm looking forward to the game as I've still got a lot of friends at the club and my brother (21-year-old Kelvin) is still there, though he's injured at the moment. [LNB]"Would I swap a night like the one we had against Juventus for City's cash? Well I've had a great career and it keeps getting better and better. I'm not thinking about the past, I'm looking to the future."[LNB]And the future for Fulham could bring two cup finals. German champions Wolfsburg await in the Europa League last eight, but on Wednesday it is the FA Cup and a quarter-final replay against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. [LNB]Fulham have only won one match away from home in the Premier League this season, but the mood around Craven Cottage is unsurprisingly optimistic, with Paul Konchesky insisting that they should now be feared by all comers. [LNB]"What we've proved is that we can beat anyone," said Konchesky ahead of a game that will see the winners face Portsmouth at Wembley. "Tottenham will be worried about us going there now. [LNB]"By beating Juventus 4-1, everyone will look at that and think it will be tough playing against us. We go into this game knowing we are just one win from Wembley. The manager has said that every pitch is the same, it's just a different stadium, so why can't we go and win at White Hart Lane?" [LNB]For Konchesky there is the added incentive of a possible England call-up. The former West Ham left-back has won two caps for his country - the last of them in 2005 - but Ashley Cole's broken ankle and Wayne Bridge's international retirement have opened the door to players who were previously considered rank outsiders. [LNB]Indeed, Konchesky is now the only English left-back playing in the last eight of either the Champions League or the Europa League, and he admits he has considered the possibility of spending the summer in South Africa. [LNB]"The thought of getting into the England squad has crossed my mind," said Konchesky, who would have caught the watching Fabio Capello's eye with his performance against Juventus.[LNB] "The team is doing really well, and if anything comes of that it's a bonus - hopefully there will be a knock on the door for one or two of the English players here." [LNB]Europa League draw in full:[LNB]Quarter-finals: [LNB]Fulham v Wolfsburg Hamburg v Standard Liege Valencia v Atletico Madrid Benfica v Liverpool[LNB]Semi-finals: [LNB]Hamburg or Standard Liege v Fulham or Wolfsburg Valencia or Atletico Madrid v Benfica or Liverpool[LNB]Fixtures:[LNB]Quarter-finals: first legs April 1; second legs April 8 [LNB]Semi-finals: first leg April 22; second leg April 29 [LNB]Final: Wednesday May 12, Hamburg Arena [LNB]
