Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa is preparing his team for their opening Premier League match against Chelsea, a London derby that kicks off the new season. Arbeloa emphasized the importance of fan support at Craven Cottage, saying it's very, very important for the team to feel the energy of the crowd. He recalled his playing days, when Fulham's home stadium was always a difficult place to visit. With the team looking to build on their 12th place finish in the 2025 table, 26 points behind leaders Arsenal, Arbeloa knows that a strong home performance will be key to their success. Fulham have scored 43 goals and conceded 46, with a -3 goal difference, and will need to improve on this record if they are to climb the table. After the Chelsea match, Fulham will face a challenging month, with their next fixture against Manchester City at home on 2027-02-06, a team currently sitting second in the table. Arbeloa is focused on the work ahead, saying that football is not about what you want to achieve, but about what you are willing to do to achieve it. He is confident that his team has a good attitude and will need time to improve, but is looking forward to the challenge ahead.