Tosin Adarabioyo is confident Fulham can get a positive result against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday (today).
The Whites will look to bounce back from Thursday’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur when they come up against the champions.
“Liverpool are still the Premier League champions so you’ve got to respect that. We’ve got to go out there and put on a show and try to get a performance,” Adarabioyo told Sky Sports.
“I feel like we can take a lot of confidence from that game [the reverse fixture in December]. We went out there and played our game, we had a lot of opportunities and the game could have gone either way really.
“We were winning 1-0 for quite a while in the game before the end so that can give us a lot of confidence to go to Anfield and try and get a good result.
“We know how offensive Liverpool are and what a great attack they have so it’s just trying our best to nullify them.”
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Adarabioyo only joined Fulham on a permanent deal from Manchester City in October and he has defended his decision to chase regular first-team football.
The player of Nigerian descent also reviewed his previous loan stints away from the Etihad Stadium in the Championship.
“I had full belief [to be able to perform in the Premier League]. I know the qualities that I have and I know I’m able to perform in this league and I’m showing that now,” he continued.
“I learnt from some great players at Manchester City. They gave me a lot of tips that helped me push on to this day.
“West Brom was a more difficult loan spell but Blackburn was a great platform to show myself and show everybody else what I’m capable of. I gained some confidence and it helped me push on this season.
“I just knew I had to get out and play regular football and I knew this club was the right place to come to. I came to Fulham because the opportunity to work with the gaffer and his staff was a big positive.”
7 Comments
I wish NFF and Nigerian team mates of Tosin Adarabioyo can help us convince and get that guy for Super Eagles… I will call that young central defender McClean… I have played central defence in my football odyssey and must say in all honesty we risk missing on Tosin Adarabioyo if we don’t do our utmost best to convince that brother. He is by far the cleanest and most solid central defender of black African decent I have seen by a far-stretch in a very long time. If we can get that young man… With the likes of Lookman and new likely entrants from Germany like Torunarigha… I bet my balls we can challenge for senior world cup glory. I want to conclude that I value Tosin Adarabioyo as an equivalent of Erling Haaland devastation to opposing teams.
He said he doesn’t want naija, he is eyeing the euros too
Those statements are meant to push for their first nations to take notice… I see his statement as a political one. The likes of Kevin Akpoguma said that before and he is lucky that Nigerians are full of love and forgiveness… He has seen he has no chance with the German national team and as such the dream of playing world cup will be non-existent. Most foreign borns will behave like they did… We would continue to be forgiving, and I am certain Adarabioyo will play for us in the end. That guy is a defence stalwart!
the last two matches of Fulham – against TOT and Liverpool really prove to me that the guy is good, not forgeting Aina aswell, Aina kept Son away from the ball and against liverpool both players really proveed what they can do defensively and offensively…we’ll be lucky to have the 4 players play for Nigeria…Aina, Tosin, Josh and Lookman…i bet they will easily strike understanding in the national team. still waiting for GR team list though bcs some of our players are really doing well recently.
My good man, don’t bet your balls on football matter ooo. Lest you become an involuntary eunuch 🙂 🙂 🙂
For me, the main issue remains, not the quality of our foreign born talents, but the environment we provide them to perform in. Even if Tosin is better than Franz Beckenbauer, what will he accomplish on a poor pitch? He is used to world class surfaces, and his performance levels are dependent on having a good pitch to play on. The same can be said for Lookman, Aina, Maja, Aribo, Ejaria, and the rest of them.
For example, look at how good Aina has been for Fulham this season. Why does he struggle to replicate such performances on our eyesore pitches? It’s not rocket science. The same Aina did so well at the Afcon for the same reason he’s doing well in the premier league – good surfaces.
We can wish and hope all we want for our best foreign born players, but until we address the underlying problems that continue to relentlessly haunt our football, namely poor pitches, unpaid match bonuses and other player payables, ridiculous administration, etc, we will remain far from the promised land.
Even if Jamal Musiala switches from Germany to Nigeria, what is he going to do on a poor pitch? Owe him a match bonus or two, and the young man will start giving excuses for subsequent invitations. And if he does that, can you in good conscience blame him? And good luck trying to convince him to go with the team to Benin by boat. Looooooool!!!
Tosin recently expressed his desire to play for England in the upcoming Euros. Tough to take for Nigeria fans. But it was always likely to happen. If we offer our English born talent the same benefits or more than the English offer, then we become more attractive to these guys.
I don’t know how patriotic Lookman is, but will he for love of a country he was not born in accept the risk and uncertainty of going to Benin by boat for a crucial qualifier? After the game, he will likely be owed the match bonus, and his travel expenses.
I also would like very much for our best foreign born players to choose Nigeria and come play for us. But my hopes and expectations are tempered by unfortunate Nigerian football realities.
Let’s fix our underlying issues first.
I can’t but agree more with @Pompei
The problem with football in Nigeria as a whole is simply organisational.
Sometimes I wonder if the NFF can’t take a hint from other sporting organisations doing so well. Three comes to mind.
The NBBF(basketball) run by Kida. NCF(cricket) run by Ukwenya and ofcourse the wrestling federation run by Igali. 3 organisations running so well.
Kida and his management team of done so well for basketball that we got foreign born Nigeria players willing to wear the Jersey, with pride too. Both male and female.
The cricket federation just last December hired an expatriate cricket coach from Sri Lanka( Ashanka) to come run the affairs of our cricket national team. He is not just a journeyman coach. This is a world cup winner with Sri lanka, a former coach of Sri lanka and a technical consultant for Australian Cricket as well. This is no small feat.
All these were done without no fanfare or controversies. Just people doing their job right. People with innovation,will and selflessnes to get the job done. This is patriotism. This is organisation that people would want to work for and work with . No matter their status or place of birth.
I wish the NFF could just learn.. I only wish….
….and to think these federations dont command half of the financial windfall and sports ministry “interventions” the NFF has recourse to makes one want to hate the NFF even more and more.