Fulham manager Marco Silva’s attitude towards cup competitions has not changed this season.
Under Silva, Fulham have reached a first ever Carabao Cup Semi-Final, as well as two FA Cup Quarter-Finals – feats that he is motivated to improve upon.
“This one for us is very important,” he said in his pre-Bristol City press conference. “The last three seasons, we didn't hide ourselves, saying it's just another competition. It’s very important, like the FA Cup is too, and we look really seriously for it.
“We are serious about it. I think we have been showing you – we have been knocking on the door to arrival in the final stages of both competitions. We already achieved the Semi-Finals once in the last three seasons, for the first time ever at this football club.
“And when you already achieved the Semis, the next step for us is try to go to the Final. But we have to go step by step, to share the ambition with our players and with our fans as well.
“Let's do the job that we have to do, game by game, and tomorrow is going to be a tough one.
“We have to take the responsibility of the game, take it very serious. One of the things that pleased me more in last few seasons in these competitions, is how we have been able to be serious always with our approach in these type of games.
“It doesn't matter if you repeat the same XI from the last game, or if you change players, doesn't matter the number that you are going to rotate or not, but the way we have been approaching these competitions is really serious.”
City will present a good test at the Cottage on Wednesday night, having not lost any of their four fixtures in all competitions.
“Difficult one,” Silva admitted. “Championship sides are always very difficult to play against in this type of competition.
“They come, play against a Premier League side, they want to make some type of story in these type of competitions.
“They know if they beat a Premier League side, they are always going to be in the spotlight. I think it’s a normal ambition for any club when you are in lower divisions than the Premier League.
“We want to perform well. We want to win the game. But the most important thing for us is to be in the next round.
“We want to do our maximum. Massive respect, of course, for Bristol, they started well the season. They have quality, we are aware of their quality, the way they play, everything that they can put on the pitch, and the problems they can create for us.”