Fulham coach Marco Silva expects Leicester City to be an even trickier fixture than our recent meetings with Manchester City and Liverpool. The Foxes could be in the relegation zone before a ball is kicked at Craven Cottage, but are unbeaten in their previous three.
Marco Silva said: “That will be a really dangerous game. After the Liverpool match, I said that probably the next game against Leicester will be even more difficult than City and Liverpool. Of course, people probably don’t understand what I was saying, I’m not saying that Leicester is a better team than the other two, but in terms of they are fighting for their lives. They’ll come here to play in a different way to the other two teams against us, and it will be a tough one, a good test, another one for us. Another good test for us at the Cottage with our fans, and we have to play as best we can do in the game, because it will be tough one. A team that is really strong on the counter attack, we are going to try to have command of the game. They are strong, [Jamie] Vardy in any moment of the game can punish you, as well with the support from players like [Harvey] Barnes or [James] Maddison. They are a good side but fighting for their lives in a position that they didn’t expect to be in.”
Fulham will need to win three of our remaining matches in order to achieve Silva’s aim of breaking our Premier League points record – something that our Head Coach remains keen on accomplishing.
Marco Silva said: “We are going to fight for it, because it’s a target for us. We have 12 points to fight for, four games to fight for, and we are going to do our best. As always, game by game, thinking about the next one. That will be a very good one at the Cottage that we want to do our best in to win, but the target is there, it’s realistic, and we have to fight really hard to get it.”
The Whites could have a big say in the relegation battle next week, with the Leicester game followed by a trip to bottom club Southampton on the Saturday. And when asked how satisfying it is to not be involved in the dogfight, Silva replied: “We all have to be really pleased, as a football club, our fans, even if the last two months results have been tough for us.
Marco Silva said: “Of course, many circumstances as well, with some injuries, some players out, our top goal scorer already seven games out of the plans as well, all those things made an impact. But it’s never an excuse for me, that situation, but it made an impact. We had a fantastic run after the World Cup break, we got a certain amount of points that put us in a position the table where we knew we were not going to be in this fight. We are going to be in a different fight, and we have to be pleased of course, we have to be really proud, because I knew what everyone was saying at the beginning of the season about Fulham, I knew that we were the favourites, some people even without doubts that we will be the first one to get relegated, and of course we have to be pleased. Not because what the people said, because it’s normal, they have to comment, they have to give their opinions. Much, much, much more for ourselves. Firstly, for our fans because the last two seasons in the Premier League were really tough for them and they deserve much more. And, also, because I believe and I said from the last days of last season that I felt that the Club belongs in the Premier League, this football club belongs in the Premier League, and we showed that during this season.”
