(Reuters) – Fulham will not change their objective for the season despite being on the verge of a European competition place, with the focus on staying in the Premier League, coach Marco Silva said on Thursday.
After Saturday’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest, Silva’s side are seventh in the league standings on 35 points, the same as Brighton & Hove Albion who they face on Saturday.
A win at the Amex Stadium would move them closer to the fifth-place Europa League qualification spot.
Despite exceeding expectations, the Portuguese coach said the main objective for last season’s Championship (second-tier) winners remains securing the points needed for safety.
“We are not going to change, it’s not a lack of ambition,” Silva told a news conference on Thursday.
“We don’t change the targets. We have a target inside the club in terms of points. Until the moment we achieve it, we are not going to change our target. I will be the first to create another.
“It’s not important for the moment to say we’re going to fight for something different if we haven’t achieved our main goal.”
Fulham played the Europa League final in 2010 when they lost to Atletico Madrid. Despite having the chance to play in the tournament for the first time since the 2011-12 season, Silva is calling on fans to be measured and continue to support the team regardless of the results.
“The only thing I asked of our fans is to be always with the team, not just in the good moments but in the bad moments,” the 45-year-old coach said.
“The mood is completely different. But I want the same if something comes along in the future.
“Football is so easy when you’re winning games, keeping clean sheets. Everything is so nice, but football is not always like that.”
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City)
