Fulham drew 0-0 away at Liverpool, ending a run of three consecutive defeats and securing their first point of the season. After the match, Fulham manager Arbeloa held a press conference and discussed the team's performance at Anfield, defensive balance, and the players' implementation of his tactical philosophy.

Congratulations on a very encouraging point. What are your thoughts on the match? And the team kept a clean sheet at Anfield.

We know how difficult it is to play in this stadium and we know that today we faced a team with top-level players and manager. I think they might be the team with the most aggressive high pressing in the Premier League. I'm certainly pleased to have earned this point, but more than the result, I'm more satisfied with the performance of the players. They showed their character, their fighting spirit and their ambition in this stadium.

I know that football ultimately comes down to points, to how many points you actually get, not how many you deserve. I believe that against Chelsea and Crystal Palace we would have deserved more points, but in the end we didn't get them. After the match against Crystal Palace, I had the feeling that the players realized it's important to play well in attack, but it's equally important how we defend after losing possession and how we control transitions. Today we were more balanced overall.

Our defense was very good and we continued our performance from previous matches when we had the ball. So I think this is the path we should follow. Today we could have scored one or two goals, we were just a bit short on luck. But if we keep playing like this, I think we'll win the match.

You just mentioned the work the team has done on your defensive system. Do you feel the team really put those things into practice today?

(Laughs) Yes. From the first day I arrived here, we've worked very hard on transitions. But I believe some things really changed after the Crystal Palace match. We trained these things all week, and actually, in the first week, we were already emphasizing how important it is to maintain overall balance when you have the ball.

Of course, when you have the ball, you need to think about what you want to do and how you intend to manage it afterwards. But at the same time, you also need to consider what to do once you lose the ball. Especially against a team like Liverpool, who have very fast players and are very good at transitions. I believe today we managed this situation very well, and we also did well with the ball.

So I'm very pleased. We need to keep playing like this. In my opinion, we haven't been very fortunate in the first four matches, and we already knew the fixture list for the first month would be very difficult. But I'm very proud of my players.

Finally, let's talk about the substitutes. It's not always easy to immediately get into the rhythm of the match when you're brought on in a game like this.

Yes, they're very, very important to us, because we needed the energy they brought at that moment. And I think we introduced some players who could really threaten Liverpool's defense. Rodrygo-Muniz and Kevin both had chances, so they did very well. They gave their all on the pitch.

As I always say, I can only choose 11 players to start, and there are other players in the squad who deserve more playing time and more opportunities. They're doing very well now. The season is very long and we still have many matches to play, so I believe their opportunities will certainly come.

You've received some criticism this season. How gratifying is it for you personally to see the players respond like this today?

Of course it is. Because when the team keeps not winning matches, it's not easy to make the players believe in your philosophy. I know that when you manage to win, everything becomes much easier. But they have always believed in the way we work. I will also show them what we did well, because I believe there are actually many things we did well.

But we also made mistakes. Of course, in this league, if you make a mistake, the opponent will punish you. That's this league, that's the level here. We need to understand that when opportunities arise, we must take them as much as possible. At the same time, we also need to make the team more balanced and better control transitions, because every team in England has very fast players. I believe today we did better, and we also understood how important it is to maintain overall balance.

Let's talk about center-back Abildgaard, who played today. This was his debut, and it was obviously a very difficult match.

Yes. (Laughs) For him it was really a very difficult match. His first Premier League match was at Anfield, and he had to face Isak and other excellent top-level players. But he showed how good he is. I knew him when I was in Spain, and he also played very well at Chelsea. I know what kind of personality and character he has. He's very good with the ball, very strong physically and very intelligent. So I'm very satisfied with him.

You just spoke about some mistakes and how the team will be punished for them. But today your defense looked very composed in possession. How do you instil this confidence in your players against a team like Liverpool?

We've always trained these things, because I have players who know how to bring the ball out from defense, advance with short passes and beat the opposition's press. From the first day I arrived here, we've trained these things. The hardest part is actually implementing these things in official matches. Because in training, even if you make a mistake, you won't be punished for it, so it's much easier. But in a match like this, once you make a mistake, problems will arise.

However, I want my players to show this kind of character. I want them to actively ask for the ball, to dare to take it even under pressure and to have the ability to play it. We also know very clearly what we should do and how we should overcome Liverpool's press. Against a team so good at high pressing, I believe today we handled the situation very, very well.

We know how good Andoni (Iraola) and his team are at pressing, so I'm very pleased and very proud of the way the team played today.

Given your connection with Liverpool and your past career as a player here, how do you feel about returning here today and securing your first point as a manager?

(Laughs) I came here before as a Real Madrid player, and we won that match. Today is a bit different, because this time I came here as a manager, and it's equally difficult.

Of course, I spent almost three years here. As a player, that was one of the best periods of my career, and I really enjoyed it here. I'm very grateful to Liverpool Football Club, and also very grateful for the opportunity they gave me 20 years ago.

If I can be here today, it's also because I came to Liverpool back then. Rafa – I believe he should watch this match today – also gave me the opportunity. So the reason I can be here today is also because I was once a Liverpool player. I wish them all the best.

Tradotto dall'IA.

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