SILVA SIGNING
Khan: All credit to the players but manager Marco deserves my special praise
BY IAN BAKER
FULHAM chairman Shahid Khan has hailed Marco Silva as his greatest-ever signing.
The Portuguese has led the Cottagers back to the Premier League in his first season at Craven Cottage.
Victory at home to Luton tonight will secure the title. They are also on 99 goals with Aleksandar Mitrovic netting 41 of them, one shy of the second-tier record.
And Khan, who bought Fulham in 2013, said: “I believe our best off-season acquisition in my time with the club was bringing Marco Silva to SW6 as our new head coach. I was moved to see our supporters and players alike celebrating Marco when we won promotion.
“I always believed in our team, but Marco ensured we would win with personality and flair.
“Being in Marco’s presence fills you with enthusiasm and confidence.
“I can assure you the path we are on today as we prepare for Premier League football in August is the best we’ve been on in my time of service to your club.
“All credit to the players, but Marco deserves special praise.
“We have much to look forward to – hopefully 100 goals for the season and a title celebration evening. But definitely the return of
Premier League fixtures at Craven Cottage and the global attention that will accompany every match.”
Meanwhile Khan reckons Mitrovic’s success is because he adores Fulham so much.
He added: “What I appreciate about Mitro is his love for Fulham and its supporters is evident in everything he does.”
Luton boss Nathan Jones has revealed setting fire to his players’ table tennis table helped blaze a path to glory.
Just two points from the remaining two matches will secure the most unlikely of play-off places.
The Hatters were in League Two when Jones took the decision to scrap ping-pong at the training ground in 2016. He recalled: “When I came in, I felt the culture and the environment there wasn’t what it is now.
“I felt some of the players were more concerned with being good on the table tennis table than they were about being professional footballers.
“Now the players do rehab, prehab sessions, do their own individual sessions. There was a big table tennis culture so
I thought I can cajole them and try to get them into the gym or I can burn the table tennis table. It was easier to burn the table.”