Hodgson tempted by Italian job

Roy Hodgson last night admitted he would love another Italian job before trying to upset old rivals Juventus in the Europa League tonight.

The former Inter Milan and Udinese coach is still in regular contract with Massimo Moratti and plans to meet the Inter owner in London before the Chelsea game next week.

Hodgson, who took Inter Milan to the 1997 UEFA Cup final in his first spell at the club, has enjoyed fantastic success with Fulham since saving them from relegation two years ago.

And with Jose Mourinho itching for a return to the Premier League, the 62-year-old last night admitted he would be willing to return for another spell in Serie A before the end of his career. “Yes, why not?“ he said.

“You never know what is going to happen in football. My two spells in Italy were very enjoyable and I left with a lot of good memories.

“Who knows? It is not something that I particularly think about. I am really enjoying doing the job I am doing and recently renewed my contract to stay at the club.

“But if it happens, it happens. Italy will always have a very fond place in my memories as it has played an important part in my career.”

Hodgson last night challenged his Fulham side to write another page in the club’s history in the Stadio Olimpico in Turin tonight.

“We are making history as we go along,” he said. “We believe we can win this tie and if we can, we would be making more history for this club.

“It is something that this club is very proud of. We are setting quite a high standard and it is going to be difficult for the club in the future to improve on what we are doing here.”

Fulham, who are 7-1 outsiders to win the first leg, were forced to train indoors last night because of the heavy snowfalls in northern Italy yesterday.

“It is not ideal but nothing was going to be ideal,” he said. “We gave up our right to cut the pitch up to keep it for tomorrow. You can’t beat the weather. The weather always wins.”

With Fulham also facing Tottenham in an FA Cup final quarter-final replay before the end of the month, the fixtures are piling up for the Craven Cottage club. They also visit Old Trafford on Sunday.

But Aaron Hughes, who is stand-in skipper for the suspended Danny Hughes tonight, insisted his side are ready for their 46th game of the season.

“You forget about the tiredness with all the excitement,” said the Northern Ireland defender.

“When you were eight or nine years old, if someone said to you in 20 years' time you would be playing Juventus, Manchester United and then Juventus, you would have taken it.

“It is something we are all looking forward to. These are the games you want to play in. Juventus would certainly be a scalp to take and everyone around Europe would sit up and take notice of the result.”