Fulham boss Álvaro Arbeloa does not think Crystal Palace’s recent form will carry much weight in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie.
The Eagles come to Craven Cottage on the back of one draw and three defeats, but our Head Coach will certainly not be underestimating a side who has already beaten Fulham in SW6 this season.
“Well, you know what, when you are not in your best moment, every game is an opportunity, and I think they will come here thinking about a good opportunity to win a game, to win a cup game, to be in the next round,” Arbeloa said.
“So, for them, it’s a good opportunity, and of course they will come with desire, with the same desire like us, but we are thinking in ourselves and what we have to do against a very good team that obviously has very good players.
“We will see tomorrow, but it's another London derby, and maybe a revenge for us because we want to win the game that we lost some weeks ago. We are thinking that tomorrow is going to be difficult.”
Arbeloa made wholesale changes for our victories in the previous rounds against AFC Wimbledon and West Ham United, but he suggested in his pre-match presser that he will be going strong in Round Four.
“I expect to put the strongest team possible tomorrow,” he confirmed.
“Obviously, we played three days ago, and we have another match in three days [after Palace], but I am thinking about winning this game. Only thinking about that.
“For me, this cup is really important. It's a great opportunity for us to reach a final – three more games, we are not far.
We are playing at home, against a team that, like I said before, beat us some weeks ago, so I am thinking about the best XI that I can put on the pitch.
“Tomorrow is an important game for us. It's like a final, we know that.
Important game for us because we want to be there, and yes, we are ready for another battle.”