Alvaro Arbeloa: ‘It is going to be a long journey’ after Al-Ahli draw

Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa has said that getting the club to where he wants them to ‘is going to be a long journey’ following the Cottagers’ 1-1 draw with Al-Ahli in Portugal.

Al-Ahli took the lead through Richardo Mathias, before Ryan Sessegnon equalised for the Cottagers as they bounced back from a disappointing defeat to Norwich in a behind-closed-doors friendly that got their pre-season started.

Concentration now turns to Portuguese side Farense in another behind-closed-doors friendly before clashes with Crystal Palace, Malaga and Stuttgart wrap up pre-season.

Arbeloa was optimistic after his second match in charge of Fulham and maintained that the draw against the Saudi Pro League side was a good result.

“It has been a really good test for us, our second test, against a team that is at a different stage from us, they started their pre-season many weeks ago,” he said.

“But I think it has been a really good test with a lot of improvements from the last game, obviously.

“I think we need a lot of time; it is going to be a long journey. Our players are working really hard and really well, so I saw today many things that we were working [on] during the training sessions, so I am really happy of course.

“We have big room to improve, that is obvious, but I am happy with the guys.”

So early in pre-season under a new manager feels like a very clear and obvious time for there to be issues that need to be ironed out.

Arbeloa did not deny that there were indeed things that can and need to be improved, but he was also pleased to see his team make imporvements already.

“I think we controlled the game much better than the other day, we had the ball, we moved the ball quickly from one side to the other side, pressed the loose ball well,” he continued.

“I think we were aggressive; we saw the ambition that we want to see during matches and, of course, we need to create more chances, more 1 v 1 situations.

“I think we can finish more chances but we have time to work and we will improve for sure.

“I am trying to know my players and obviously I am trying different things, I want to see my players in different roles and how they adapt to my style or my idea.

“During the pre-season you need to try many, many things and for me, it is very important to know my players.”