Fulham defender Calvin Bassey believes the club are firmly in contention for European football next season, with only a handful of matches remaining in the Premier League campaign.
The London side, managed by Marco Silva, currently sit 11th in the table but are just four points off seventh place, a position widely expected to secure qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Speaking about the team’s ambitions, Bassey expressed confidence that Fulham can finally break into the European places after narrowly missing out in previous seasons.
“If you look at the last two or three seasons, we’ve been in and around it, and then the last four or five games it’s sort of got away from us, [but] we’re right there now,” Bassey told BeinSports.
“We’ve got eight games left, and I feel like we can really push and achieve it. We’re four points behind seventh, so it’s all very close, that’s why each game and point matters.
“We feel like we’re so close to our goal. The atmosphere in the changing room is excitement, because we know we’ve got a chance to do something amazing, achieve something great, so we’re just taking each game as it is.”
Fulham’s push continues with a home fixture against Burnley at Craven Cottage, a match that carries significant weight for both sides, albeit for very different reasons.
While Fulham are chasing a place in Europe, Burnley are battling to remain in the Premier League.
Their survival hopes appear slim, with Opta estimating just a 0.4% chance of avoiding relegation.
Despite their struggles, Burnley showed resilience in their previous outing, holding AFC Bournemouth to a goalless draw in a match filled with attacking opportunities but lacking finishing quality.
Fulham head into the encounter with some confidence, having beaten Burnley 3-2 earlier in the season.
A victory would secure a league double over their opponents, something they have not achieved since the 1950–51 campaign.
The Whites have also been relatively consistent against newly promoted teams, losing just once in their last 14 such matches.
However, recent performances have raised concerns, particularly in attack.
Back-to-back games without scoring, a defeat to West Ham United and a draw against Nottingham Forest, highlight the need for improvement in the final third.
