Baresi: I can make it work at Fulham

13 April 2012

Franco Baresi has told friends in Italy that he is confident he can keep his job at Premiership club Fulham.

The former AC Milan defender has seen his role reduced from director of football to adviser by chairman Mohamed Fayed and is thought to have been given just six months to prove his worth.

His arrival in June sparked a series of internal problems about responsibilities and power and manager Jean Tigana - upset most by the appointment - is threatening to reveal the full details. But Baresi, who was in Italy last night to see Fulham's 2-2 InterToto Cup Final first-leg draw against Bologna, is not worried about his position.

He said: "I have a good relationship with Mohamed Fayed and it was the chairman, not Tigana, who took me to Fulham. At the start there were problems because my name is well-known in football, but now these are over.

"Tigana is the manager and I'm the consultant to the chairman. I am happy about the experience I have had at Fulham and believe that in time things will be right."

However, Tigana hinted at a less harmonious relationship.

He said last night: "One day I'll talk about the squad, the signings, my situation and what is going on but not today." Tigana also accused Bologna players of trying to cheat their way to victory.

The sides drew in the first-leg in Italy last night when two Giuseppe Signori penalties were cancelled out first by a Junichi Inamoto wondergoal and then by a late Sylvain Legwinski strike.

But the match was marred by an 18-man melee in the secondhalf and six bookings. Substitute Louis Saha clashed with Signori on 72 minutes and tempers boiled over after Fulham failed to return possession when the ball had gone out of play for an injured home player to receive treatment.

Saha was the only one booked for apparently pushing striker Signori, but the former Italy international was accused by Tigana's players of exaggerating.

Tigana said: "Some cheated and tried to provoke my team. They have more experience than my players and tried to disrupt us but it was a good experience as we have many young players." Tigana's side may have learnt from this, but while they were playing in the Stadio Renato Dall'ara they became agitated at the ease with which their opponents went to ground and wasted time when they were leading.

In a tight first half, Francesco Guidolin's side went ahead in the 53rd minute when Sean Davis tripped Carlo Nervo in the area and Signori neatly placed his penalty past Edwin van der Sar.

Inamoto, who replaced Steed Malbranque on the hour, levelled within two minutes of coming on. He followed up a good tackle with a swerving dummy past defender Giulio Falcone and a precise, curling left foot shot into the bottom corner of former Italy No1 Gianluca Pagliuca's goal.

Signori gave Bologna the lead again on 75 with a penalty converted in identical fashion to his first after Andy Melville was judged to have pulled Julio Cruz's shirt 10 yards from goal.

Legwinski then gave Fulham the crucial second away goal on 86 minutes after Louis Saha and Steve Marlet combined well.

But it was Inamoto's first goal for Fulham, following his 12-month loan move from Japanese side Gamba Osaka last month, they were talking about.

Tigana said: "It was fantastic. A great tackle and a typical English goal. It lifted the team's spirits and also his confidence."

In fact, it was probably more of a typical Japanese goal as it was very similar to one the 22-yearold scored for his country against Belgium in the World Cup finals.

The former Arsenal player said that scoring last night was just as important to him, but it still may not give him a start in the Premiership against Bolton on Saturday, never mind the secondleg of the final in twoweeks' time.

Tigana added: "I explained to Inamoto when he joined that we have a big squad and he will have to come and work, but he has done well and he is getting better."

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