Martin Jol says Fayed won't play football manager

 
23 November 2012

Martin Jol is not convinced that Roberto Di Matteo’s decision to kick-off with Fernando Torres on the bench against Juventus was the straw that finally snapped the patience of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

But while the Fulham boss is sufficiently wise in the way of the football world to know that Abramovich  does wield the kind of brutal influence at Stamford Bridge that might make most Blues managers think twice about their team selections, the big Dutchman is confident that his own foreign owner will never meddle.

The benevolent presence of Mohamed Al Fayed looms large over Craven Cottage, but Jol insisted only he fills in the team sheet. Jol, who takes his side the short distance to Chelsea next Wednesday night, said: “I would always tell him that he made me responsible, he gave me the key, so I will make the decisions. I think the chairman knows that. I feel the coach is always responsible.”

Jol shook his head at headlines claiming that Abramovich sacked Di Matteo simply because he did not start with Torres, the Russian oligarch’s pet player, for that fateful Champions League night in Turin. “That is only speculation,” he said.

“I don’t think Abramovich would tell him to play a certain player, because every game is different. And especially against Juve, I can understand why he (Matteo) did that.”

Jol will hope to go to the Bridge off the back of a successful foray to Stoke City tomorrow. Fulham, notoriously poor travellers in the past, are now looking more comfortable playing away from the Cottage. Yet Jol is far from satisfied with three draws in a run of four away games without defeat which is just two shy of Fulham’s Premier League record.

“It’s not great,” he said. “If you looked to the past, those games would probably have been lost, so it is good to have those draws. But, hopefully, we can turn these games into wins because that is what we’ve lacked. We could have been in a better position in the league.”

Fulham will have to challenge hard at the Britannia Stadium. Not only are Stoke unbeaten in their last 12 home Premier League matches but the visitors will have to combat the aerial threat of Peter Crouch without the imposing presence of captain Brede Hangeland.

At least the tall Norwegian’s suspension, brought on by his red card against Sunderland last weekend, has given him more time to consider Fulham’s latest contract offer. Jol revealed he was “optimistic” that Hangeland will sign sometime over the next month.

Philippe Senderos will deputise at centre-half and Mahamadou Diarra is available after an injury lay-off. But both Bryan Ruiz and Alex Kacaniklic face another fortnight on the side-lines after sustaining hamstring strains in the defeat to Sunderland.

With his midfield depleted by injury, and a certain US-based former England captain looking for a “new challenge”, Jol was asked if he had considered making an offer to David Beckham.

Jol thought long and hard before answering, as though Beckham seeing out his playing days in a white shirt was a distinct possibility. But it won’t happen.

“I would love to do it,” said Jol. “He is one of my favourite players, ever. I’ve met him and he was ever so nice, and he is an unbelievable sportsman. But I have Damien Duff and Ashkan  Dejagah in that position on the right, and we couldn’t afford him anyway.”

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