Joachim Andersen puzzled by Alvaro Arbeloa decision to drop him at Fulham

Joachim Andersen says he has been given no clear explanation for his sudden loss of a starting place at Fulham under manager Alvaro Arbeloa.

The Denmark defender was a regular and captained the side in a number of matches last season, but has found himself on the bench during Fulham’s difficult start to the new Premier League campaign.

“I am a little surprised. Last season, I was captain in many matches,” Andersen told Danish media.

Andersen was sent off in May and subsequently served a three-match suspension. He returned to action in Fulham’s opening game of the current season, a 3-2 defeat by Chelsea.

Arbeloa selected the Danish centre-back for the following matches against Sunderland and Crystal Palace, before leaving him among the substitutes for the game against Liverpool. Andersen then came on for the final 10 minutes of the meeting with Manchester United, as his absence from the starting line-up continued.

Despite his surprise at the change in status, Andersen has avoided criticising his manager directly and said he understood why the coaching staff might want to make alterations after a poor beginning to the campaign.

“We lost our first three matches, and I was suspended for the first one. Then the manager thought we needed to make changes. But I do not have much to say about that,” he said.

“I cannot do much. I think I played brilliantly. Sometimes the manager wants to try something different, and that is how it is.”

Fulham under pressure after winless start

The issue comes as Fulham attempt to recover from a difficult opening to their Premier League season. They have collected just two points from their first five matches and are still waiting for their first victory.

Those results have increased the pressure on Arbeloa, particularly with more important fixtures approaching once the international break is over.

Fulham will hope the next stage of the campaign provides an opportunity to correct their course and restore some stability. The club also needs its tactical plans to deliver greater clarity for both established players and those who have recently been left out of the starting side.