With the Premier League season now fast approaching, Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa has admitted that he ‘can’t wait’ for the club’s opening game against local rivals Chelsea.
It has been a testing time for the Cottagers at times this summer, with the exits of Harry Wilson, Raul Jimenez and Marco Silva in particular.
Add to that further experience in Sasa Lukic and Issa Diop heading to Ipswich and there were some worries about what the Fulham side may look like.
But, as the phrase goes, out with the old, in with the new and that has certainly been the case for Fulham, who, thanks to Arbeloa’s links to Real Madrid, successfully negotiated the signings of Cesar Palacios and Gonzalo Garcia, as well as Shea Charles from Southampton and Jonah-Kusi Asare from Bayern Munich.
Now, although there are another two weeks left of the transfer window, the eyes have moved away from that and onto the start of the Premier League season.
And for Fulham, that starts against their London rivals Chelsea, a challenge that new boss Arbeloa is hugely excited for.
“It was very, very special. My first game here [against Stuttgart] but I can't wait for the first game against Chelsea.
“Well, it's not going to be easy, of course, Chelsea is a very tough team.
“They are doing well during the summer, obviously, signing very good players, very expensive players.
“They are a tough team with a great manager, we know that, but we play at home, so I want to see the same mentality.
“We have to press Chelsea, we have to do our footwork. If the ball moves, try to finish, to shoot and to be aggressive.
“I want to see that character, that ambition, that mentality for us is important. And in the end, we win, we lose. But I want my players to show that character.”
Chelsea have themselves had a very busy transfer window, having signed Morgan Rogers for a British record fee, Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace as well as Marco Palestra from Atalanta and Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano.
They, unlike last season when finishing 10th, have also had the fortune of many of their players not being selected for the World Cup, leaving them fresh and firing for the new season.
It certainly marks an almighty test for Fulham to get started, but it is one that Arbeloa, the squad and the Fulham supporters will all be right up for.
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