Fulham defender John Pantsil has expressed his excitement over what the club could achieve this season.
Defender excited about Fulham future
Fulham defender John Pantsil has expressed his excitement over what the club could achieve this season.
Having earlier distanced himself from speculation of a move away from Craven Cottage, Pantsil is focusing on the new campaign and has set his sights high.
He believes Fulham can build on what they accomplished under previous manager Roy Hodgson and challenge for a place in the Premier League's top six.
Mark Hughes has taken over the reins this summer and Pantsil is convinced the club can go from strength to strength.
"I have said many times that Roy Hodgson was someone that made me the player that I am today, and that I am very grateful. But we have to move on - this is what happens in football," said Pantsil.
"The appointment of Mark Hughes is a very exciting one, and I'm looking forward to seeing how this team evolves under his guidance.
"He's a very good manager. I think most of the players have come up against his teams in the past and from those experiences we know that he has a lot of quality.
"He's someone that commands a lot of respect and is tactically very astute."
Ambitious
Pantsil joined Fulham from West Ham in 2008 and he has seen them develop into a side that last season reached the final of the Europa League.
"It's not long now until the new season gets up and running. This will be my third as a Fulham player and I'm very excited about what could unfold," he said.
"It will be a challenge, but for me I would love to see the club push as close as they can for a top-six finish.
"I believe in this squad of players and we have shown before what we can achieve as a team.
"I know that people will say that it will be difficult, but we have to be ambitious and have belief in our ability - otherwise what is the point in going out there?"
Fulham have won one and drawn three of their pre-season fixtures, with Pantsil making his return from World Cup action in the weekend defeat to Portsmouth.
Pantsil made a late return to training after helping Ghana reach the quarter-finals in South Africa.
"It has been a long summer for me - one that came on the back of a very demanding season," Pantsil told the club's
official website.
"I feel good though. It was good to be back and despite the result it was a game I very much enjoyed.
"It was just important for me to be wearing a Fulham shirt again."
