Fulham Manager Roy Hodgson Admits Priority Shift After Shock Juventus Scalp

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson concedes the Premier League now sits behind both the Europa League and the FA Cup in his list of priorities after Thursday's impressive victory over Juventus.

Having confirmed their place in the last eight of the Europa League, Fulham will look to maintain their level of performance when they welcome Manchester City to Craven Cottage on Sunday but no doubt thoughts of Wednesday night's FA Cup replay against Tottenham Hotspur will be diffcult to surpress.

With a successful league campaign built largely on a solid home record, the west London side currently sit 10th in the Premier League table and 14 points clear of the relegation zone.

According to Sporting Life, Hidgson said: "I don't think we'll go down this year.

"Maybe we're a few points short but I'm pretty confident that we will do it, so there's no doubt that the two cup competitions will now take priority, particularly the one on Wednesday, but that might be a competition that come Thursday we won't have to worry about because that game at Tottenham is by no means a given."

The 62-year-old believes an injury crisis to his thin squad in February ended his side's chances of qualifying for Europe through the league and he will now try to ensure Fulham’s place in next year's Europa League by giving precedence to both cup competitions.

However, despite Fulham’s shift priority shift, there is significant prize money on offer and Hodgson is sure his side's league campaign won't dwindle into obscurity.

"I think in the Premier League, with the quality of the opposition, the interest in the game, the full stadiums of people, the cheering the intensity and the speed of the game, I think it will be very difficult for a serious professional footballer not to be up for games," he said.

Hodgson will welcome back captain Danny Murphy and former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jonathan Greening for Sunday's game at Craven Cottage, where Fulham are unbeaten in seven.

Like Fulham, City have been unable to repeat their good home form on their travels, but Hodgson knows his side will still face a tough task restricting the likes of Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy.  

"I haven't thought that much about who they have lost and who they have beat but it's comforting to think that they have lost against some of the so-called 'lesser teams'," said Hodgson.

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