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Roy Hodgson confesses transfer and Euro dreams

last updated Saturday 17th April 2010, 12:36 PM
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
     
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Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has confessed Fulham's European dream will be a distraction for the game against Wolves.

Wanderers striker Kevin Doyle has spoken of his hope that the Cottagers, who continue their quest to reach the final of the Europa League next Thursday, would treat Saturday's clash as a dead-rubber having already ensured their top-flight status.

And Hodgson admits his side will have their semi-final first leg against Hamburg in the back of their mind when they host survival-chasing Wolves this weekend.

He said: "It would be nice to say that I have only thought about Wolves and that we haven't thought about Hamburg, but if I said that it wouldn't be accepted because anybody in their right minds would know that the semi-final of a Europa League is a massive occasion for any club, let alone a club like Fulham.

"As a club we haven't had any European experience so of course we have it in the back of our minds.

"There were several hundred teams who entered the Europa League at the start of the campaign and we are happy to be one of the final four.

"We realise that we are in touching distance of such a major trophy and I'm sure that the two matches we play we will give our utmost to get there."

As well as reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League, the Cottagers made the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and also look set to finish in the top half of the Premier League.

Hodgson has deservedly earned many plaudits for his efforts, especially given a transfer budget that was tiny in comparison to most top flight sides.

He admits he would like the money to sign one or two players this summer in order to avoid the chaos that hit his side in February, when injuries to several key players decimated his side.

"We have no deals lined up at the moment," the 62-year-old said. "But it's something that our scouts work on daily. They work their socks off trying to find names and suggest players.

"I do think that we could do with that little bit more help with one or two more players in there to make certain that we keep competition for players high, and also so that when we do lose players through injury, like we have done this season, we have the kind of players that are as competent and talented as the ones we have lost."







































































Source SkySports
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