HANGELAND: WE MUST HANG ONTO HODGSON

BREDE HANGELAND believes wanted man Roy Hodgson is irreplaceable at Craven Cottage.

Fulham boss Hodgson has admitted turning down coaching roles with Sweden and Norway following their failed World Cup campaigns.

And big central defender Hangeland admits he would be worried for his side's future if his boss abandoned them during such a hectic season.

The Norway international said: "I'm convinced that if any manager can get this club good results, it's him.

"I don't see anybody doing a better job at the moment so I'm relieved to have him.

"I think he is more valued abroad than he is here but I think that is beginning to change a little bit.

"People have seen what a good job he's done with Fulham.

"He's an honest, hard-working manager. I have the greatest respect for him.

"It's not surprising he was linked with the Norway and the Sweden jobs. What can I say?

"He's worked there and he's a great manager.

"It would be surprising if they did not mention him but it's not my decision.

"I haven't had a word with him but if he went I hope he'd go to Norway so he could be my still manager but I hope he stays, of course."

Fulham were left devastated on Thursday when they were just seconds away from recording an historic win over Italian giants Roma in the Europa League.

Yet Hangeland believes their performance against the star-studded Italians will only breed more confidence within the side when they visit Manchester City today.

He added: "Even though they are a bigger club and on paper have better players than us, it's possible to get results up there.

"Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez will be a handful of course.

"But the strikers we come up against every week are a handful.

"We know when we do our job well and play as a team we can get results against most teams. We proved that against Roma and we will try to do it again on Sunday.

"We've won two years in a row up there so it's very far from impossible."

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