Alvaro Arbeloa urges improvement as Fulham prepare for Sunderland trip

Alvaro Arbeloa insists Fulham will improve as they prepare to visit Sunderland after a home defeat by Chelsea.

According to Sunderland Echo, Sunderland host Fulham in their first home game of the Premier League season on Sunday afternoon.

Arbeloa handed debuts to Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios at Craven Cottage, but his side trailed inside the first minute when Joao Pedro scored for the visitors. Joshua King levelled midway through the first half, then Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer struck either side of the interval to put Chelsea clear. Garcia also found the net on debut, yet Chelsea held on for all three points.

The derby was Arbeloa’s first Premier League match as a manager and his first return to English football since a short spell at West Ham. He accepted this campaign brings tough challenges and urged his players to show character, ambition and energy before heading to the Stadium of Light.

Arbeloa said he thinks improvement will take time, though he liked the energy and the high press on show. He added that Fulham will try to play that way regardless of opponent, acknowledging it will not be easy against very good teams, and that they must fight from first minute to last.

Source: Sunderland Echo

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