Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa has shared his thoughts on the team's narrow 3-2 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League's third round.
The Spanish boss believes his players performed well, creating enough chances to at least secure a draw.
'I think we didn’t deserve to lose. My players did everything they could; they had the right attitude, were brave, and created plenty of opportunities to score more. Palace took their chances, but at the end of the day, that's what football is all about,' Arbeloa told BBC Match of the Day.
He also pointed to misfortune concerning Fulham’s second goal conceded.
'We were very unlucky with that goal. We had many chances ourselves, but luck wasn't on our side.'
Arbeloa took the opportunity to commend Gonzalo Garcia for his relentless efforts in trying to support the defence.
'That’s the spirit I want to see from my players. A forward making a sprint to help the team avoid conceding a goal is exactly what we need. If we play with that kind of spirit, the victories will come.'
This defeat marks yet another painful moment in the season for Fulham. Arbeloa drew comparisons to their previous match against Chelsea.
'We did a lot of things right to win that game. It felt much like the match against Chelsea, but we suffered another defeat. It’s a tough moment for the players right now, but I am very proud of them.'
The Fulham boss also highlighted the performances of Cesar Palacios and Gonzalo Garcia.
'Cesar and Gonzalo both had excellent games. Cesar scored a goal, and Gonzalo had another impressive performance.'
