Fulham boss Arbeloa ready for fierce reunion with Alonso in Chelsea derby

Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa says his close friendship with Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso will be put aside when the two clubs meet in Monday’s London derby at Craven Cottage.

Arbeloa and Alonso have a long-standing relationship, but the new Fulham manager insists personal ties will not affect either coach’s determination to win the Premier League fixture.

“I spoke to Xabi a few days ago, but not about football,” Arbeloa said at his pre-match news conference. “Our families are coming to London, we are close friends, but we will give everything for our clubs throughout the 90 minutes. We will not be friends for the whole 90 minutes, because we want to win this match.”

The match will be Arbeloa’s first major test in charge of Fulham, with Chelsea arriving at Craven Cottage under Alonso. It will also provide a highly anticipated meeting between two former friends whose focus will be on securing three points for their respective clubs.

Arbeloa has begun his Fulham tenure by welcoming the club’s deals for Real Madrid pair Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios. The Spanish coach believes the two young players can become central figures in his plans and fit the style of football he wants to establish.

“They are very young players, extremely talented and ambitious,” Arbeloa said. “They fit perfectly with the style of play we want to implement, and they understand very well what I expect from them. I am very happy to have them with me.”

The Fulham manager is relying heavily on the two new arrivals as he seeks to keep the London club in the Premier League and continue the progress made under his predecessor, Marco Silva.

Silva left Fulham to take charge of Benfica after producing what Arbeloa described as excellent work during his time at the club. Arbeloa acknowledged the strength of the foundations he has inherited, while making clear that he intends to establish his own approach.

“Marco did a great job,” he said. “The players here were happy and comfortable with him, but now a new era begins. I know what I want and how I want to achieve it, but I also know how difficult this competition is. I believe we will be a team that is difficult to beat.”

Fulham will finish the upcoming Premier League round when they host Chelsea on Monday, with the fixture carrying added significance because of the relationship between the two managers.

Arbeloa’s appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter for Fulham, but the club’s immediate priority is a difficult derby against a Chelsea side led by Alonso. The Spanish coach’s comments have already added an edge to a contest that will see friendship replaced by competition once the match begins.