Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Al Ahli in Portugal gave Alvaro Arbeloa another useful pre-season reference point, but the new manager was quick to stress that this is only the beginning of a much longer process.
The match was Fulham’s second test of pre-season and came after a disappointing defeat to Norwich in a behind-closed-doors friendly. Arbeloa, who is still getting to know his squad, said the game offered clear signs of improvement while also reminding everyone that there is plenty of work still to be done.
“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,” Arbeloa said. “But I think it has been a really good test with a lot of improvements from the last game, obviously.”
Arbeloa sees progress, but not the finished product
That is the key takeaway from the evening. Fulham did not just want a result in pre-season; they wanted signs that the training ground work was beginning to show on the pitch. Arbeloa felt that was happening, but he was careful not to overstate it.
“I think we need a lot of time; it is going to be a long journey,” he said. “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.”
He added: “We have big room to improve, that is obvious, but I am happy with the guys.”
More control, more ambition
Arbeloa was encouraged by the way Fulham handled the game compared with their previous outing. In his view, they were more settled in possession and better at applying pressure when the ball was loose.
“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 said. “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.”
That balance is often what pre-season is about for a new manager. Fulham are not yet being judged on final outcomes, but on whether the structure is clear and the ideas are starting to land. On that measure, this looked like a step forward from the Norwich game, even if the sharpest edge is still missing.
Trying different roles before the real work begins
Arbeloa also made it clear that he is still experimenting. This stage of pre-season is as much about learning as it is about winning, and he wants to see how his players react in different positions and tactical tasks.
“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,” he said. “During the pre-season you need to try many, many things and for me, it is very important to know my players.”
That process will continue when Fulham face Farense in another behind-closed-doors friendly. After that, Crystal Palace, Malaga and Stuttgart will complete the club’s pre-season schedule, giving Arbeloa further opportunities to refine his squad before the serious work begins.
For now, the 1-1 draw with Al Ahli feels like a useful marker rather than a statement. Fulham are moving, but Arbeloa has been open about the scale of the task. The performance showed some of the direction he wants, while also confirming that this remains a team in the early stages of building something new.
