Marco Silva says that Fulham’s “motivation is at its highest” to qualify for European football heading into the final seven Premier League games.
Fulham travel to Anfield for their first Premier League game after the international break in ninth place, two points behind Brentford and Everton, who are level on points.
It was confirmed this week that the top five finishers will secure Champions League football for next season, meaning that as it stands, sixth and seventh will qualify for the Europa League, while eighth place grants a Conference League campaign.
With just seven points separating Liverpool in fifth (49) and Bournemouth in 13th (42), the dogfight for those European spots is as tight as ever – but Silva is optimistic about his side’s chances.
“We’ve put ourselves in a position where we can fight for something that is very difficult to achieve, but still achievable — something we wanted to be in the fight for,” the head coach said. “Of course, as you would expect, the motivation is at its highest now.”
Silva acknowledged how tight the table is, saying that “it’s going to be a big fight until the end of the season.”
He added: “There are seven games left and, of course, you want to get as many points as you can, but you cannot think about all seven at once. You have to go game by game and prepare as well as possible for the next one.
“Every three points is going to be massive right now. The importance of each game is bigger than before because there are only seven left to play.”
Brentford host Everton in the earlier kick off on Saturday, which could have implications for the European race, given they’re both on 46 points and occupy the last two spots. Fulham then travel to the Gtech to face the Bees in what promises to be a seismic west London derby, with something on the line arguably for the first time since the play-off final in 2020, which Fulham won.
If the Cottagers finish in the top eight, next season would mark their first appearance in a European competition since 2011-12 when they played in the Europa League by virtue of the Fair Play League. The Londoners famously reached the final in 2010, cruelly losing in extra-time to Atletico Madrid.
For Silva, getting the club back to the European stage is a motivating factor.
“We are in a position the club has not really been involved in for many years,” he said. “Last season we came close to fighting until the final moment to achieve it, and this season we are doing it again. That shows the progression of this football club and the work we have been doing.
“When you look at where the club has come from over the past five years and where it is right now, if you are there, you are going to fight — definitely.”