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Thursday 20th November 2008 Make us your HOME PAGE  What is RSS?
 

FOOTBALL

HODGSON: IT'S ABOUT PRIDE NOT MONEY

Story Image


Hodgson (left) with Fulham owner Al Fayed

Sunday May 11,2008

By Colin Mafham

PORTSMOUTH v FULHAM

FULHAM players won’t pocket a penny extra if they pull off the great escape at Portsmouth today – and manager Roy Hodgson insists they wouldn’t have it any other way.

As they go to Fratton Park knowing that victory will guarantee them Premier League football next season, they will be playing for pride not pounds says Hodgson.

In the past, owner Mohamed Al Fayed has been quick to put his hand in his pocket in search of success, but not this time.

The Harrods boss, who visited the club’s training ground last week to sound a final rallying call, left the players in no doubt what he expects of them. And he won’t be paying any extra to get it.

“He told us he wants to stay in the league and win the game, simple as that,” said Norwegian striker, Erik Nevland (right).

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We all want to ply our trade in the Premier League rather than the Championship. That’s the biggest incentive we can get
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Hodgson


And manager Hodgson added: “The chairman’s view is pretty much like my own. We are paid to do a job and that is to play football and win football matches.

“I don’t think any of the players here can complain about their salaries so I don’t think he sees any need to offer any extra incentive.

“We all want to ply our trade in the Premier League rather than the Championship. That’s the biggest incentive we can get. We don’t need any more incentives.”

Both Hodgson and Nevland – who earned cult status at Craven Cottage last week with his goal against Birmingham – presented a united front last night as they prepared for what is one of the biggest games in their lives.

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“It is of great importance that we stay in this league and that is what we are all aiming for,” said Nevland.

Nevland, who pledged his future to Fulham no matter what happens today, said the chairman had blostered the side during recent visits to the training ground.

“It is an inspiration to see his commitment and that has given us a buzz. He is such a colourful person,” said the Scandinavian.

Nevland added that although “it looked really bad” a few weeks ago he and the players had never lost faith in their ability to pull together and beat the drop.

“Who would have thought a few weeks ago that we would now be out of the bottom three?“It’s all just down to belief. We believed we could do it.”

And Hodgson is counting on his players’ pride to see them through.

“Players at this level play for pride,” he said.

“In this case it’s the thought of victory that spurs them on and victory could be so sweet with such professional rewards that any financial ones would be superfluous.”


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