Scharner aiming to sink Fulham
Paul Scharner is determined to show Roy Hodgson what he missed out on when Wigan Athletic face Fulham on Sunday.
Scharner is well aware of the qualities of the Cottagers' chief, as their paths previously crossed in Norwegian football.
Hodgson – who has also coached in Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, Italy and the United Arab Emirates in a long and distinguished career – managed Viking Stavanger against Scharner's Brann Bergen.
And Scharner must have made an impression before joining Wigan in January 2006, as Hodgson expressed a desire to sign the Austrian last summer.
Thankfully for Latics, Scharner stayed put – and he's looking forward to going head-to-head with Hodgson again at the DW this weekend.
Scharner told the Observer: "It was flattering to hear Roy was interested in me, as it tells me I made a good impression on the field.
"He was a manager in Norway when I played there so he knows me quite well from then.
"His teams always have a great mentality. He has worked all over the world and I think that gives any of his teams a very big advantage.
"In fact, Roy was in talks with the Austrian FA a few years ago, and I think he is a very good manager – one of the Premier League's best."
It looked likely Scharner's Wigan career was over in the summer due to his desire to sample European club competition, with chairman Dave Whelan admitting he would be allowed to leave if the right offer came in.
Aston Villa were also mentioned as potential suitors, but Scharner stayed put – and he is delighted the way things have panned out under Roberto Martinez.
He revealed: "I am very happy at Wigan now. We have a very good manager, who has changed the whole philosophy of the club.
"We play a lot more football now than we have in the last three and a half years, when we were more direct.
"It takes time and hard work to change the style of a club, but I am much happier playing this way.
"I am a free agent in the
summer, and we will be looking at what's going on in the next few months.
"I will decide at the right time, but the most important thing now is to get good performances and good results."
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Weather for Wigan
Thursday 02 September 2010
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 22 C
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Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
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