Ryan Sessegnon said that qualifying for Europe with boyhood club Fulham would ‘mean everything’ as the Cottagers look to squeeze into European places.
Ryan Sessegnon has said that qualifying for Europe with Fulham would mean ‘everything’ as his boyhood club attempt to finish the season as strongly as possible and reach the European spots.
Fulham currently sit in 12th place in the Premier League, just three points behind the European places and with a game in hand of Chelsea in eighth.
It would be the first time since a Europa League campaign in the 2011-12 season should the Cottagers find their way into Europe.
They have just five games left and will likely need to win at least three to close in on European football, with the clash against Aston Villa on Saturday the first of five finals effectively.
Sessegnon himself is aware of the task in hand but insists that the club are in a strong position as things stand.
He said: “Obviously five games left, we still need to push more towards the goals that we want and yeah, let’s push together and hopefully we can do it.
“I feel like if you said that last season, that we would be in with a chance of Europe with five games to go, we would have taken that.
“We are in a good position. We need to focus on ourselves and finish the season strongly.
“It would mean everything, I think it would be a dream really, the club have not played it since 2012, so a very long time.
“We have a group of very good players, so if this group were to do it, it would be very magical, that’s for sure.”
Fulham face Arsenal, Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle in May, in fixtures that could decide both the Premier League title and the battle for the European places.
Before that, though, they will be looking to finish May as strongly as possible, having picked up just one point from their last two matches after the international break.
The Cottagers return to Craven Cottage for the lunchtime kick off against an Aston Villa side who have all but secured Champions League football for next season.
Sessegnon is aware of their ability and was adamant that his side would give Villa the respect they deserve.
He said: “First and foremost, we have to give them the respect.
“They have played a good season, but again, we are home, in front of our fans, and we need to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible.
“I feel like with a crowd behind us, we can do that.”