Sasa Lukic says Fulham will qualify for Europe – and be even stronger next season.

In a wide ranging interview with The Standard’s Dom Smith, the Serbian midfielder says that those who doubt Marco Silva’s side will be surprised as the squad remain motivated to spring a few surprises in the final weeks of the season and he believes that once the Whites find their consistency they can prove they belong in the upper echelons of the Premier League.

“Last season we did very well, but I said before this season we would fight for Europe, for something more. “Now we are in the right spot to get into Europe. We have three more games and I believe we will do it. It’s very important for this club every year to do better than last year. I have a feeling that next season we can do much better than this. We have to grow together. I think we have to be consistent. That’s the next step: be consistent. That’s my opinion.

The last three years have been in the Premier League, and before that Fulham were in the Championship. Fulham is a club with history, and in London — it deserves to be always in the Premier League. Once we have consistency, other things will follow.”

The former Torino playmaker admits he struggled in his first Craven Cottage campaign but is proud of his special relationship with the Fulham fans – and his performances as a deeper lying midfielder since Joao Palhinha left for Bayern Munich.

“I had other options, but I chose Fulham. That first six months was tough for me, because I changed from my life in Italy. It’s impossible to compare it with the Premier League, which is the best league in the world. The level is much stronger here than Italy. Day by day, I improved a lot. Last season, I played the second half of the season very well. From August until now, I have started, and I have played very well. I’m happy.

Joao and I were starting together in the second half of last season. But now Joao is gone. I wanted to be Sasa Lukic, not Joao Palhinha. Because I’m a foreigner coming into the Premier League, to know that in the stands people are singing your name is something really special, to make an impression and show you are one of them. I just want to give my all every single day. Maybe the fans saw this and because of that have taken to me.”