Mark Schwarzer’s footballing future is shrouded in doubt but the 40-year-old Fulham keeper still has dreams of playing in the Champions League.
Schwarzer is out of contract this summer and will leave after five years at the club if a new deal cannot be agreed in the coming weeks.
Schwarzer, who has enjoyed an impressive season with Fulham, believes he can keep playing at the highest level. “There are always regrets you don’t get the chance to play in the Champions League,” said Schwarzer, reflecting on a collapsed move to Arsenal in 2010.
“But you never say never. I’ve always learnt that in football. You never say that it’s never going to happen because you just don’t ever know.”
While Schwarzer has never played in the Champions League, he has featured in Europa League finals with Fulham, in 2010, and Middlesbrough, in 2006 [then the UEFA Cup].
The Australia international admits that it has been a struggle to emulate the club’s success in Europe. The departure of star men such as Mousa Dembele and Clint Dempsey hasn’t helped the club but Schwarzer does not believe player sales show a lack of ambition.
“It’s a tall act to follow,” he said. “We’ve had two managers since that night in Hamburg and if you compare the team then to what it is now, it’s completely different.
“It’s disappointing when you lose quality players but that’s part and parcel of football. Even those top four or five teams lose their top players. Look at Arsenal losing Van Persie, it happens.
“The club have bought in people like Dimitar Berbatov — that in itself showed how much ambition they have.”
Jol wants to recruit this summer but whether a keeper will be on the radar is still not certain. Schwarzer admits it will be an emotional moment when he does finally leave the club.
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“Somewhere along the line there will be a last time,” he said. “There’s always a sense of sadness, especially when you’ve been at a club for five years.”
Schwarzer wears the Mitre Anza G2 Pro Negative Goalkeeper Glove. For more information visit www.mitre.com
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