Fulham's Hodgson: "nothing to prove"

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON (Reuters) - New Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said on Monday he felt no pressure to prove himself to the club's fans or English football as a whole as he prepared for a daunting first game in charge against Chelsea on Tuesday.

The much-travelled 60-year-old was appointed last week to replace sacked Lawrie Sanchez and takes on Chelsea with Fulham second-last in the Premier League.

"It might be 10 years since I worked in the Premiership but I haven't exactly been at a low level," Hodgson told a news conference at the club's training ground.

"I know its a tough league and will be a tough job but I feel after a couple of years as an international manager I'm ready to return."

Hodgson's only experience of the Premier League came with an unsuccessful stint in charge of Blackburn Rovers from 1997-98 but he is one of the most highly-rated coaches in the game.

He coached Finland, the United Arab Emirates and led Switzerland to the 1994 World Cup and Euro 1996, their first appearances in major tournaments for three decades, won trophies galore in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, took Inter Milan to the 1997 UEFA Cup final and sits on various FIFA and UEFA technical committees.

"The mass media in England tends to concentrate on what's happening here and I've made no attempt to keep my name in the frame," he said.

COACHING ABILITY