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'Hopefully it's a blessing to go out of Europe' - Fulham manager Martin Jol
The Dutchman is keen to see his side's domestic form improve after crashing out of the Europa League, with strikes from Dempsey & Ruiz ensuring victory over Bolton
17 Dec 2011 19:10:00
By Joe Doyle at Craven Cottage
Fulham manager Martin Jol is hopeful their elimination from the Europa League will help his side to focus on moving up the Premier League after their 2-0 victory over Bolton.
The Cottagers were the dominant side for long periods of the game, and scored two goals in quick succession to seal all three points, with a stunning goal from Bryan Ruiz doubling their lead after Clint Dempsey's opener.
"Hopefully it’s a blessing [to be eliminated from the Europa League]," Jol told reporters. "It’s nice to be in Europe, but you have to travel to many places and you have to win it.
"If you don’t win you can punish yourself, going to Europe on Thursdays and especially when you’re away. I told the players, and I think they will agree: It’s harsh to go out but on the other hand we can now focus on the Premier League."
Jol was happy with how his side played in the first half, particularly as his forward line linked up to a create a number of chances, but the Dutchman conceded he would have liked a third goal to help ease his side to three points.
"We had many good performances, but for us the most important thing is the points. After the disappointment of Wednesday, it’s always difficult to play against a team like Bolton and get the points.
"I feel we are always on the fringe of doing something. [Over the past five months] we couldn’t score at the right moments. I had that same feeling today when Andy Johnson had two opportunities, but luckily enough we scored right after that and after the second goal you know it’s probably easy."
Jol was also full of praise for goalscorer Ruiz, stating that now the Costa Rican is injury free, he is turning out performances that justify his £10.6 million transfer in the summer.
"I expect him to do what he did today because that’s what he used to do on a weekly basis. Of course here it’s a different ball game but I felt that he did well over the past three or four games when he started. Especially at Arsenal.
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The Cottagers were the dominant side for long periods of the game, and scored two goals in quick succession to seal all three points, with a stunning goal from Bryan Ruiz doubling their lead after Clint Dempsey's opener.
"Hopefully it’s a blessing [to be eliminated from the Europa League]," Jol told reporters. "It’s nice to be in Europe, but you have to travel to many places and you have to win it.
"If you don’t win you can punish yourself, going to Europe on Thursdays and especially when you’re away. I told the players, and I think they will agree: It’s harsh to go out but on the other hand we can now focus on the Premier League."
Jol was happy with how his side played in the first half, particularly as his forward line linked up to a create a number of chances, but the Dutchman conceded he would have liked a third goal to help ease his side to three points.
"We had many good performances, but for us the most important thing is the points. After the disappointment of Wednesday, it’s always difficult to play against a team like Bolton and get the points.
"In the first half we always have different problems in games, but I thought we did well, especially the link up play between Moussa Dembele, Clint Dempsey and Bryan Ruiz, who then slid balls into Andy Johnson. That was a nice balance, I was very happy with that.
"Second half was different because we’d have liked to score a third goal and we didn’t do that. We gave them the momentum. We were a bit sloppy in midfield, gave it away and then they did anything and everything to score a goal, but we didn’t get punished."I feel we are always on the fringe of doing something. [Over the past five months] we couldn’t score at the right moments. I had that same feeling today when Andy Johnson had two opportunities, but luckily enough we scored right after that and after the second goal you know it’s probably easy."
Jol was also full of praise for goalscorer Ruiz, stating that now the Costa Rican is injury free, he is turning out performances that justify his £10.6 million transfer in the summer.
"I expect him to do what he did today because that’s what he used to do on a weekly basis. Of course here it’s a different ball game but I felt that he did well over the past three or four games when he started. Especially at Arsenal.
"Last week when I moved him into midfield he was probably one of the best players on the pitch.
"Today he was not perfect, obviously, but he set up a goal and he can score goals like the one he did against Everton, that’s the sort of goal that he scores and you won’t see many players who can score goals like that.
"The main thing was his fitness. He had a big injury in Holland then when he came here he was not 100% fit. Then he had an injury again so he was out for three or four weeks. Now, if you look at his stats and confidence, I think he’s getting there."
Jol also revealed that Bobby Zamora failed a late fitness test at the ground, but was close to being considered for the game.
"Bobby had a late test today and he was not fit to start. He said he could have played maybe 10 minutes but that’s not enough.
"It was his left knee, he’s had it for the past couple of weeks. Yesterday we had to drop him out of training, we thought maybe if we don’t take a risk he will be fit for tomorrow, but after the test this morning he was not fit to start."
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