I didn’t touch Bruno but he went down screaming!
Fulham’s JOAO PALHINHA on his aborted move to Bayern, what Liverpool can expect if Ruben Amorim gets the top job — and facing off against his Portugal pal Fernandes...
FOR a country of only 10 million people, Portugal has had one hell of an impact on our football. Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo left massive imprints, of course. Now we have the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Marco Silva and Nuno Espirito Santo contributing to our Premier League.
I met up with another of their countrymen, Joao Palhinha, this week. Driving to the Fulham training ground at Motspur Park brought back happy memories of my own five years at the club.
I even found the parking spot used by manager Roy Hodgson, except for the one day I absent-mindedly left my car in it and received a proper rollocking.
Palhinha has been an integral part of the most successful Fulham team since I captained our 2010 Europa League finalists. Tall, combative and athletic, he’s at the peak of his powers aged 28 and part of Portugal’s plans for this summer’s Euros. Bayern Munich were close to signing him last summer and it would be a surprise if more big fish didn’t come in at the end of this season.
Chatting to him in some welcome sunshine, I found we shared something beyond trying to influence games as deep-lying midfielders.
A lot of players don’t like coming up against friends and former team-mates, but I used to enjoy it. Palhinha gave the same vibe about facing Portugal team-mates in the Premier League. ‘I remember with Bruno when we played Manchester United at home in November. I received a yellow card. I didn’t touch him and he was completely screaming. It is normal for him!’ grins the Fulham man.
‘The next play, I drove with the ball and he made a tackle. It was not a foul but I screamed as well because he did the same.
‘The ref gave the foul but didn’t give him a yellow card. I smiled at Bruno. It is special when it happens inside the pitch. We are friends so everything is OK.’
I saw Portugal win Euro 2016 and find it surprising they’ve hardly been mentioned as contenders this summer. ‘It is good for me over here. It takes off the pressure,’ acknowledges Joao. ‘But our Portuguese people have this idea and ambition. Even us as players, we know we can seriously reach something special. We have a big quality squad. The Euros are always competitive. It won’t be easy but I think we can do it.’
Palhinha has been a big success at Fulham under his compatriot,
Silva, who is approaching his third anniversary at Craven Cottage.
They go to West Ham today with the aim of finishing in the top half of the Premier League in consecutive seasons — remarkable for a club of their size.
‘Nobody expected that of us when I signed at the start of last season,’ adds Palhinha. ‘A lot of that success is down to Marco. He brings a competitive side. He wants us to fight the same against Burnley as if it were Arsenal or Liverpool. When we are too relaxed, like at Nottingham Forest, he goes completely crazy. It shows passion.’
Another Portuguese manager may soon be with us and few know prospective new Liverpool boss Ruben Amorim better than Palhinha, who played for him at Braga and Sporting Lisbon where they won a league title together.
Although Joao is reluctant to say a reunion is likely, it’s clear he admires the 39-year-old manager.
‘If he signs for Liverpool, I have no doubt people will like his personality,’ he says. ‘I can believe he is a big option to replace Jurgen Klopp. He’ll step into a higher level at some point.
‘You can’t fully compare Sporting with a world club like Liverpool but there is also big pressure on a coach fighting for titles in Portugal.’
Style-wise, Palhinha offers insight. Amorim was just 34 when he took over at Braga during Palhinha’s loan spell there.
‘He plays with three at the back. He likes to have possession.
‘If I needed to compare his teams with anyone, it is this season’s Bayer Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso. The way they want to have the ball and manage the ball. If it does happen and he goes to Liverpool, it will be a new challenge but their players are adaptable and his way is good.’
As a former Benfica player, Amorim showed bottle taking over the hotseat at their main city rivals.
‘Although he was young, he came across as experienced,’ notes Palhinha. ‘It’s hard to choose which current Premier League manager he is like because I’ve only been coached here by Marco Silva, but I think it’s probably Roberto De Zerbi. Also because of the style of football.’
Palhinha’s own future is interesting. I see him as a future Champions League player. There is nothing wrong in having ambition as long as you give everything to the club you’re playing for, which he’s done at the Cottage.
Last summer’s story is well known. Palhinha was in Munich to sign for Bayern but the deal fell through.
I’ve been very impressed how he reacted by giving everything for Fulham this season.
‘It had an impact but I turned my head around to focus,’ he explains. ‘I had this opportunity and I will try to fight to reach another opportunity.
‘If it appears, it appears. If not, I just need to keep doing my job for Fulham. I’ve always felt a big support. Without my work here, nothing would be possible anyhow.’
The business model of some clubs is to sign players in their early twenties. Palhinha is encouraged that Bayern paid £86million for Harry Kane after he turned past 30.
‘People like to consider that old but Harry is a good example why I don’t believe it,’ says Palhinha, who will turn 29 during the Euros.
‘With the information in today’s game about conditioning and nutrition, players are prepared to play until 35 at the top level. It is easier to play more years than in the past... I am not old!’
From experience, I concur. My Liverpool team signed Gary McAllister when he was 35 and he was a major reason we won three cups in 2000-2001.
I think Palhinha will be seen on the biggest stages at some point. Knowing Fulham, they’ll give their blessing, invest the transfer fee wisely and continue to thrive.