Schwarzer hopeful Fulham on the long road to final

MARK SCHWARZER admits Fulham will find it hard to beat Hamburg tonight after completing a 27-hour journey to the German city for their night’s Europa League semi-final.

The Cottagers arrived in Hamburg at 4pm yesterday for the first leg after an arduous coach trip which began at their training ground in Surrey.

The squad finally arrived at their hotel before heading to take part in a training session at the Hamburg Arena, where they will begin their bid to make their first European final tonight.

Schwarzer says spending 17 hours on the road has brought the team closer together, but admits the long journey has left the team facing an struggle.

“We’re fighting an uphill battle, really, with the trip that we’ve made so it’s going to be really tough for us, but we’ll try and do what we can,” said Schwarzer, who made the UEFA Cup final with Middlesbrough in 2006. Hamburg are expected to get to the final now. They are the favourites to get through, even more so with the circumstances that have come about.

“The atmosphere on the journey has been very good though. We have a very good relationship anyway in the team.”

Manager Roy Hodgson said following Saturday’s draw with Wolves that it would be unfair if UEFA forced his side to travel by land to the ground – and he concedes the journey has left his side at a disadvantage.

“The plan was to arrive here at 1.30pm to have lunch and that would have given us all afternoon for the physio to work with the players,” Hodgson said.

“Because of the delay, they didn’t get to look at them until 5pm, which is further disadvantage, but that I hope won’t hamper us.”

“It will be a little bit harder for us. It is not ideal preparation for an important game. Now we’ve got the night here and we can relax and rest.”

Meanwhile, Hamburg defender Dennis Aogo hopes to erase the disappointment of last year’s UEFA Cup semi-final exit by winning the Europa League on home soil next month.

“We all remember the semi-final last year and it hurt,” the 23-year-old said.

“Those of us who were there want to put that right now and what better motivation can we have than playing in our home stadium?

“That is the real drive that drives us on.”