Fulham were shattered when their European fairytale was ended in extra time by Atletico Madrid, but Dempsey found the outcome easier to take than most. The USA international's elder sister Jennifer, a professional tennis player, died of a brain aneurysm in 1995 aged just 16. And while Dempsey is eager to make up for last season's near-miss with success in the FA Cup, which resumes against Tottenham on Sunday, he has adopted a philosophical outlook to losing. "We had the chance in the final but we came up just a little bit short. That's the way things go sometimes," he said. "Afterwards it was tough, but what can you do? All you can do is get on. "Every now and then it plays on your mind but for me there have been things in life much worse than losing games or a final. "So it's not something that weighs on my mind too often because I know it is in the past and you should look to the future. "It's each player to his own, but for me the toughest thing in life is losing somebody. At the end of the day soccer is just a game. "In your career you want to win titles and be successful but it's not everything to me. "It's still a sport I love and it has helped me to take care of my family so I owe a lot to it. "But it 's not the only thing that brings me happiness in my life." Dempsey's interests may extend beyond football but it is his form on the pitch that will surely be providing him with greatest satisfaction at the moment. In goal scoring terms, the 27-year-old is enjoying his best season in four years at Craven Cottage having hit the target nine times already. "It has been consistent with what I have done in the past, that's how I feel from the four seasons I have been here," he said. "I'm on course to do even better this year in terms of the number of goals I have scored. I've had a good season. "My best tally before this season in the league was seven. Last year I got nine in all competitions. "This year I already have nine in all competitions. "I always try to be better than the year before and it is good that I have been able to do that. I hope I can continue that." Dempsey's form and the forthcoming return of Bobby Zamora have convinced manager Mark Hughes he does not need to sign another striker in this transfer window. But while Dempsey is happy at Craven Cottage, he has ambitions of gracing the biggest club stage of all. "I'd like to play Champions League and whatever league I am in I would like to win. You want to win cups too," he said. "I have won two finals with my country - now maybe I can win a final with a club."
