Fulham star Zoltan Gera believes his side’s controversial weekend break could prove the decisive factor as they aim to continue their Europa League fairytale against Hamburg tonight.
Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson risked the wrath of the Premier League when he rested nine first-team players for Sunday’s game at Everton ahead of the semi-final second leg at Craven Cottage.
West Ham complained to the Premier League when Hodgson made a similar selection for a loss at Hull before his team’s quarter-final against Wolfsburg.
Hungary midfielder Gera, however, insists Hodgson’s decision will ensure the team, who drew 0-0 in Germany in the first leg, are perfectly prepared as they try to set up a final clash with Liverpool or Atletico Madrid.
“I would be lying if I said I didn’t like the rest, as the past weeks have been very tough,” Gera said. “All the games have been very speedy and I needed to recover well during the weekend, especially after our long journeys.”
Despite having to make an 18-hour road trip to Hamburg, after their flight was grounded by the volcanic ash cloud over Europe, Hodgson’s team coped admirably with the draining journey and delivered a defensive masterclass in the Nordbank Arena.
They shut out Hamburg even though the hosts dominated for long periods, but Gera hopes their failure to score an away goal won’t prove costly as a score-draw in the return would mean the Germans reach the final.
“Our goalless draw is not the best omen, because so far we have scored on all of our away games in Europe,” Gera said. “Now, after the goalless draw, we have to win on home soil. If we don’t win, then we just can go through with penalties. Of course I’d accept this if it meant that we could go into the final.”
That result was just the latest heroic effort by the Cottagers in a European campaign that has included wins over holders Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus and German champions Wolfsburg.
Now Fulham, who have never won a major honor are on the verge of the greatest achievement in the club’s 131-year history.
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