Fulham boss Marco Silva insists he will not look beyond the fixtures in front of his side as they aim to achieve their first European finish since 2009.
The cottagers take on the third placed underdogs Nottingham Forest in a mouthwatering clash at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off).
Although the Portuguese head coach sees European football as a real possibility considering his sides excellent form this season, he believes the team’s improvement since their return to the Premier League three years ago has come from taking results in isolation.
He said: “We take it a game at a time, definitely, it’s been the way we have been managing the team from the first season.
“We targeted at the beginning of the season, definitely, to do our best to finish at the top of the table, we didn’t tire ourselves in that moment, it was clear, we wanted to improve from the last season, performance wise.
“I think we have been at a very, very good level, definitely, much more dominant than last season, much more on the top of the games, most of the time and comparing with the season, of course, the goal is about the results, and to get the results.
“We are going to work really hard to get as many points as we can, and to finish as high as we can in the end of the season.
“We are going to see what position we are going to win but one thing that’s for sure we are going to work really hard to get as many points as we can and to finish as high as we can in the end of the season.”
Silva didn’t pay much attention to the fact that Fulham have won four out of their last five Premier League encounters with Forest, and the fact they have scored seven goals in their last two home games against the opposition.
Maintaining his approach of treating games in isolation he insisted that his side cannot rely on previous results to boost their confidence going into such a challenging match-up and, instead, have to look to each other to dictate the narrative of the game.
Silva said: “You have a look or you listen to something, like they are asking me now when you are in the pre-match conference, when you are talking about Man United for example, the last results as well.
“I think it’s a normal situation that can, of course, when you go to the game, you are more or less aware of what’s happened, the last few results against the team can give you a little bit more confidence but you know that all the games are different stories, you have to write different stories as well and it’s not going to have any impact.
“It can give you a little bit more confidence, but not really that when the game starts it’s going to have an impact.”
Silva has been impressed with two young talents who are rising up the Fulham ranks in Joshua King and Martial Godo as well.
King, 18, has made five Premier League starts this term and is beginning to become a mainstay in the matchday squad, showing a lot of potential at such a young age.
Godo, 21, made his second appearance of the season and a third club appearance last weekend in a 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.
Silva did not comment on whether they would feature against Forest or their roles within the squad going forward, but was full of praise for what both men have displayed so far.
He also underlined that both players are at such an early stage in their career and should be given the necessary time to develop properly.
Silva said: “Two young players, you know that they are really important for us, and since I joined the club I want to be always more aware of everything that can happen there and of course when you feel that the quality that they have allowed us to work with them and give us the confidence that we can develop them for the level that Fulham at this level demands, because we are in a completely different level than three or four years ago in terms of demands.
“At the same time all the boys in the football club and all the young players in the football club they understand that we are aware of the work they have been doing, and if they have the quality, and they show the quality, to have a chance we are able to give for them.”
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