Hodgson seeks feather for Fulham's cap
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
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Fulham FC manager Roy Hodgson is hoping his team can enhance their burgeoning European reputation even further as they bid to overturn a 3-1 deficit at home to Juventus.
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Overturning a 3-1 first-leg deficit against Juventus and reaching the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals would be "a massive achievement" for Fulham FC according to their manager Roy Hodgson.
The Cottagers eliminated FC Shakhtar Donetsk, last season's UEFA Cup winners, in the previous round thanks largely to a disciplined defensive away display having won the first leg in London. However, with goals the requirement against Juve and injuries and suspensions depleting his squad, Hodgson believes claiming the scalp of the Bianconeri could be viewed in higher regard.
"Given the circumstances, if we can knock out a team like Juventus it would be fantastic achievement," said the 62-year-old, who will be without the suspended Jonathan Greening and Danny Murphy and David Elm (illness) and "doesn't know yet" if Brede Hangeland will play after the defender suffered a chest injury in Sunday's 3-0 loss to Manchester United FC. "I'm sure it would be a massive feather in Fulham's cap."
With his team two goals down, Hodgson is mulling over the best way to approach the return. "You've got be careful you don't open yourself up too much to counterattacks because it's a difficult task trying to turn a 3-1 defeat into an aggregate win," he added. "If you go a further goal down it makes the task that much harder so it's a balancing act."
Missing goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon and Alexander Manninger because of injury, Juventus coach Alberto Zaccheroni will choose whether 39-year-old Antonio Chimenti – who made his first appearance of the season in Sunday's 3-3 draw with AC Siena – or Carlo Pinsoglio, 20, will start.
"I've already decided who the goalkeeper will be but I haven't said anything to my players so I can't tell you," said Zaccheroni, who has Nicola Legrottaglie – a scorer in the first leg – suspended while Giorgio Chiellini, Amauri, Martín Cáceres, Sebastian Giovinco and Michele Paolucci are injured and have not travelled. "I've never seen Pinsoglio in the championship or for the youth team. I've only seen him training with us, but from his characteristics I can say he has a bright future."
