Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has insisted that Fulham are not going to succumb to the pressure as they have in previous seasons and that they will achieve their dream of European football. The Cottagers are currently 11th in the table, four points behind Brentford with eight games to go.
Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has said that ‘every point is vital’ as The Cottagers target European football.
Marco Silva’s side find themselves four points behind seventh-placed Brentford with eight matches to go of the Premier League season.
As many as eight sides are chasing that dream of taking the Premier League's final European place, with Fulham firmly amongst them in 11th.
The Whites begin their run-in with a crucial match against 19th-placed Burnley on Saturday in their final match before the international break.
Bassey, who came within a whisker of handing Fulham all three points against Nottingham Forest last week with a headed chance, is all too aware of how much every point means for his side and knows a win against Burnley would be the perfect start.
Calvin Bassey came very close to giving Fulham an all-important win over Nottingham Forest. Image Credit: ReutersThe Nigerian told Premier League Productions: “It would make a big difference.
“I checked the table and we’d jump about three spaces with three points, of course if other results go in our favour.
“Each point is so vital at this stage, and for us it’s just making sure we do everything we can to win the game.
“We’re four points behind seventh, so it’s all very close, that’s why each game matters, and each point matters.
“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 got away from us.
“[But] we’re right there now, we’ve got eight games left and I feel like we can really push and achieve it.”
Inevitably, when it comes to the business end of the season, pressure can make or break teams.
Fulham already suffered a devastating last-minute defeat to Southampton when being dumped out of the FA Cup and with a home defeat to West Ham and draw to Nottingham Forest, it appears Fulham are letting the pressure get to them when it counts.
Fulham were dumped out of the FA Cup by Southampton. Image Credit: ReutersBassey is adamant that this is not the case, though, insisting that the changing room is one of excitement at the prospect of achieving something great and not one of nervousness.
He said: “We feel like we’re so close to our goal, so for us, the atmosphere in the changing room is excitement.
“We know we’ve got a chance to do something amazing, achieve something great, so we’re just taking each game as it is.
“[It] sounds a bit cliché, but it’s honestly all we can do. We’re just focused on ending the season strong and finishing where we want to finish - That’s the most important thing for us.”