Slavisa Jokanovic is viewing Thursday’s Carabao Cup meeting with Manchester City as a chance for Fulham to improve as a team.
The bookmakers have made the current holders overwhelming favourites for the Fourth Round tie, but rather than feel daunted by the task ahead, Jokanovic is focusing on the positives.
“All the people know that for every club, Premier League games are more important,” he admitted. “[But] this season [the Carabao Cup] is a great competition for us.
“We started well in this competition, and actually the toughest game at the moment in the world is to play against City.
“This game comes at a good time for us to keep going with our improving process to keep working and not having to wait for another challenge.
“We are going into this game in a positive mood with the intention of continuing our process to try and find an improvement in our team.
“It’s another chance, a great chance, to play against one of the top European teams, and we must be ready for the fight.
“We are not so satisfied with our start in the Premier League, and this game can give us an opportunity to find a better mood and find a better way to play football.”
The Carabao Cup is often seen as a chance for clubs to provide players with game time.
But Jokanovic knows that even City’s supposed second string will be chock full of international talent, while from his own point of view he also has an eye on Monday’s crucial match at Huddersfield Town.
“Look, if they make 11 changes we’re still going to find [Vincent] Kompany or [Leroy] Sane or a striker from the Brazilian national team [Gabriel Jesus],” he explained.
“Every cup game is an opportunity for young players, and from another side it’s an opportunity for all the players to look for an improvement and continue our process.
“Ahead of us is two important challenges – we’ve tried to analyse everything and make the right decisions about both games.”
Jokanovic also offered his sympathies in his first media appearance since the tragic events in Leicester on Saturday night.
The helicopter carrying Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others crashed outside the King Power Stadium, leaving the footballing world in shock.
“It’s true it’s a tragic situation,” Slavisa said. “It’s a big loss for Leicester, for Leicester’s supporters, and for English football too.
“This man was a really successful and generous man. When people lose their life it’s a tragic situation.
“Many condolences from the football family all over the world have been given to his family. It’s hard to find the right words for this kind of situation, and I give my condolences to the family.
“Sometimes in life you have so many priorities, thinking about different things. And when this sort of thing happens, it’s great to see this kind of unity between people from different sides.”
