Arbeloa: "I don't feel fear" as pressure increases after 2-1 loss at Ipswich
Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa said "I don't feel fear" after his side lost 2-1 at Ipswich in a Premier League match on Saturday, and the defeat has increased pressure on the manager.
It has been a difficult start to life as a Premier League manager for Arbeloa: six games, no wins and bottom of the table, with the team having just two points so far. Fulham have twice this season led approaching the final few minutes in league games only to concede late goals.
The Cottagers were on the cusp of victory at Ipswich but the hosts scored twice after the 88th minute to snatch a 2-1 win, producing a late fightback that overturned Fulham's lead.
"I never worry about my position," said former Real Madrid manager Arbeloa. "I don't feel fear. You cannot be a coach if you feel it. You have to work, take the decision and you need to show confidence to your players. "For me I am so happy with many things that they are doing. I know it is not easy for them. "It's not about my position, it is about Fulham's position. That is the most important thing. Obviously it is just six games, but it is true we need points."
Marco Silva's departure in the summer to become head coach of Benfica followed a spell in charge of Fulham that began in 2021 and brought stability; in appointing Arbeloa as his replacement the club accepted a degree of risk. Arbeloa arrived with limited managerial experience at senior level, having had a brief spell in charge of Real Madrid from January until May this year, and he is a former Liverpool and Real Madrid player.
With his side having let in goals in the final 15 minutes in four of their six Premier League matches, Arbeloa remained defiant after the Ipswich defeat and stressed he can cope with the demands placed on him. "Maybe you don't know me but I played for the best team in world. I have coached the best team in the world," he said. "Maybe you don't know, but just to let you know, that pressure is part of my life since I was a kid. "So, it is normal in football. It is normal for players, it is normal for coaches and everybody that is around a team. "I think pressure is something that is important for me and I like it."
"We need to take a hard look at ourselves," said Ryan Sessegnon, who had put Fulham ahead at Ipswich. "It's a bit of mentality thing at the moment. We need to try and demand more from ourselves. "We need to set higher standards for ourselves because it's going to be a hard season."
The Ipswich match was the first of three consecutive games against newly promoted sides for Fulham; they host Hull on Saturday, 17 October before travelling to Coventry a week later, and failure to win at least one of those fixtures would increase the pressure further on Arbeloa.