Fulham victory would mean more to Murphy than Liverpool success

Fulham captain Danny Murphy said on Tuesday leading his unfancied team to victory in the Europa League final against Atletico Madrid would mean more than his previous European title at Liverpool.

Fulham take on the Spanish side on Wednesday night at the Hamburg Arena having already knocked Juventus, Hamburg, UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar Donetsk and Wolfsburg on the way to the final in what has been a remarkable run.

Murphy, 33, won the competition in its previous incarnation of the UEFA Cup in 2001 when his former club Liverpool beat Spain’s Alaves 5-4 after extra-time.

But under-dogs Fulham have produced some stellar performances in the Europa League including a sensational 4-1 win over Juventus in the second leg of their Last 16 round clash.

Liverpool lost to Atletico in the semi-final to deny Murphy the chance of facing his old club, but the midfielder said the opportunity to win Fulham’s first European title would be something special.

“When you play for a club like Liverpool, winning trophies every season is expected, you can tend to get a bit complacent and think it will happen every year,” said Murphy.

“The situation with Fulham has been remarkable, recently the comments made that this would be a consolation trophy for Liverpool shows the difference in the expectancy levels if you like.

“As far as we are concerned, to write our names in this club’s history books has already been special, but to go that one step further and win it would mean we will be remembered forever.

“It would be great if Fulham fans can look back on this trophy win as a wonderful achievement, rather than a Liverpool fan who is used to seeing his team lift his team lift trophies every few years.”

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is waiting on the fitness of striker Bobby Zamora, who has scored six goals in the Europa League this season, and winger Damien Duff before naming his side for the final.

“They both trained on Monday and that was positive, I am hoping they will be available to play tomorrow,” said Hodgson who has been voted the English manager of the year by his peers.

The last time an English manager won a European title was the late Sir Bobby Robson with Barcelona in 1997.

And Hodgson, whose Inter Milan side lost the 1997 UEFA Cup final to German side Schalke 04, says he would love to follow in his friend’s footsteps.

“To follow a manager like Bobby Robson would be fantastic, we were friends for many years, he was a great man and a great manager,” said Hodgson, a close friend of the ex-England manager who died last year.

“I would dearly love to follow in his footsteps, but I think there will be 11 guys out there doing their best to bring the trophy home.

“It has been something really special to reach the final here.

“I don’t think Inter beat the same standard of opposition on the way to the 1997 final and I am proud of what the players have achieved.”

Murphy says he has been amazed by the amount of good luck messages he has received from English fans back in London – not just Fulham fans – eager to see the Europa League trophy come to the capital city.

“The amount of messages I have been getting from supporters has been amazing,” said Murphy.

“We seem to be everyone’s second favourite club at the moment.

“We have overcome the odds and beaten some good teams and I think most fans around the country appreciate the style of football we try to play.”