Arbeloa defiant as winless Fulham slump to bottom of Premier League
Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa insists he feels no fear after a late 2-1 defeat at Ipswich left his side bottom of the Premier League without a win in six games.
Fulham remain bottom of the Premier League after conceding twice after the 88th minute in a 2-1 defeat at Ipswich on Saturday. It was the second straight league game in which the Cottagers led late and failed to hold on, leaving them with two points from six matches under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
Arbeloa, appointed in the summer after Marco Silva left to become Benfica head coach, arrived with limited senior managerial experience following a brief spell at Real Madrid this year. The defeat at Ipswich extended a concerning pattern: Fulham have conceded in the final 15 minutes of four of their six Premier League matches.
"I never worry about my position. I don't feel fear," Arbeloa said after the game, adding that he is content with much of his players' work and that the focus should be on Fulham's league position rather than his own. He said the club needs points and described pressure as a normal part of football that he welcomes, citing his playing and coaching background at Real Madrid.
Fulham's task does not get easier. The Ipswich match began a run of three consecutive fixtures against newly promoted sides, with Hull visiting on 17 October before a trip to Coventry a week later. Failure to win at least one of those games would intensify scrutiny on Arbeloa.
Winger Ryan Sessegnon, who scored Fulham's goal at Ipswich, said the squad must examine itself and suggested mentality is an issue, calling for higher standards because "it's going to be a hard season." Supporters, meanwhile, have voiced frustration at the repeated late collapses, though their concerns remain opinions rather than confirmed judgments from the club.
