Fulham manager Marco Silva has been pleased with how his side’s progress in cup competitions has improved throughout his tenure at the Club.
In his first season at the Cottage, Fulham played just two rounds in each of the FA and Carabao Cups, but have gone on to reach the latter stages of both in the years since.
And ahead of Tuesday’s Third Round tie against League Two Cambridge United, Silva was asked how much of a priority the competition is.
“We are very serious,” he replied. “I mentioned last round, we have to do our maximum – doesn't matter if you change one, two or 10 players, our ambition is to be in the next round.
“Massive respect, of course, to our opposition side, you know it’s a chance for them to be in the highlights the next day after the match. All clubs, in all divisions, look for this competition as a chance always to be there, to have some spotlight, and we have to be really serious.
“But one of the things that pleased me more with this group of players, in terms of the approach in this type of competition, since the first game we played in this competition almost five years ago, that wasn't the best moment for a starting point for us.
“I understood some things that I changed straightaway, in terms of mindset and mentality for these type of competitions, and we have been really serious [since], and that was the reason why we have been achieving important stages of both cups throughout the last few seasons, and we want to do the same in the Carabao Cup.
“Playing at home, of course we are favourites, no doubts about it, but we have to prove on the pitch that we want to be in the next round, and this is our aim for the game.”