MARCO Silva is more interested in the number three rather than 150 when Fulham host Aston Villa at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Silva has been in charge of the Cottagers for 149 games – winning 67, drawing 32 and losing 50 – since he took over from Scott Parker in the summer of 2021.
Three of those wins have come in seven games this season as Fulham sit eighth in the Premier League table, two points behind Unay Emery’s fifth-place Villa.
“The ambitions, they are at the top,” Silva said in his pre-match press conference on Friday. “It’s [150] just a number, it’s another game for me. The only thing I’m looking for is three points tomorrow.
“The ambition for the future is the same – keep working with a great group players and keep making the fans proud. That’s the main thing for me, if we go in this direction we will be in a better place and make the club grow.”
Silva provided team news ahead of the 3pm kick-off.
“Sasa Lukic is going to be out, unfortunately,” Silva said. “Mixed feelings on the break, some players were able to keep momentum, play minutes and contribute, like [Harry] Wilson, Andreas [Pereira] and Raul [Jimenez], and sadly some came back with injuries. Timo [Castagne] also came back with a problem in his hamstring, they will be out for sure.”
Jimenez, 33, has scored four goals for Fulham this season and was also on target for Mexico with a goal in their 2-0 win over the United States, a first defeat in charge for former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Silva added: “We are happy for him. We always believed in him. He didn’t start the season in the starting XI but he never gave up in training, never stopped trying, and now he’s helping the team win football matches.”
