"It will be a little bit harder for us. It is not ideal preparation for an important game." Roy Hodgson.
Quotes of the week
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has admitted his side will be battling the odds when they tackle Hamburg in their Europa League semi-final.
The Cottagers, who have been the surprise package of this season's tournament, have endured an arduous 27-hour journey to the German city due to the flight restrictions imposed due to the cloud of volcanic ash across much of the continent.
After abandoning their planned flight aboard a private jet, the squad crossed the channel aboard two luxury coaches on the Euro tunnel before driving to the German city of Munster, where they spent Wednesday night.
They were then left at a standstill for three hours as they attempted to drive to Hamburg thanks to a lorry crash on the motorway they were travelling on.
The squad finally arrived at their hotel before heading to take part in a training session at the Hamburg Arena, where they will begin their bid to make their first European final.
Hodgson has been forced to change his pre-match plans but is keen for his squad to recharge their batteries ahead of the first leg showdown.
"The plan was to arrive here at 1.30pm to have lunch and that would have given us all afternoon for the physio to work with the players," Hodgson said.
"Because of the delay, they didn't get to look at them until 5pm, which is further disadvantage, but that I hope won't hamper us.
"It will be a little bit harder for us. It is not ideal preparation for an important game. Now we've got the night here and we can relax and rest.
"We're going to be playing top class opposition and an away game in Hamburg is always going to be hard."
And goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer believes their lengthy journey has helped bring the squad closer together, although he too feels they will be at a disadvantage.
"We're fighting an uphill battle, really, with the trip that we've made so it's going to be really tough for us, but we'll try and do what we can," said Schwarzer, who made the Uefa Cup final with Middlesbrough in 2006.
"Hamburg are expected to get to the final now. They are the favourites to get through, even more so with the circumstances that have come about.
"The atmosphere on the journey has been very good though. We have a very good relationship anyway in the team.
"A really long trip can either pull the team part or to the contrary and I'd say it's pulled us all together."