RANIERI HAILS HIS SCRAP MERCHANT
ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC is setting the tone for Fulham’s survival fight according to boss Claudio Ranieri.
The Italian says his side need “soldiers” – and there is no bigger scrapper than the 16-goal Serbia striker.
Mitrovic even ended up in a fight with former team-mate Aboubakar Kamara during a yoga session, before the Frenchman was shipped out on loan.
But Ranieri wants to see passion on the pitch, starting against Manchester United today.
He said: “I think it’s contagious. Together it’s easier. If you see the team, you don’t see a team that’s involved in the relegation fight.
“No, we are fighting, but we lose some matches.
Not because we don’t fight, because the little details are against us.
“In a training session they give everything I ask.
When I watch the match, I see them fight.
“After, if the others score goals and we don’t score, can I say we were worse than the other team? No.
“Okay, if you don’t fight it’s difficult, if you make the difference in the Premier League. In the Premier League you need fighters and quality.
“You look at Manchester – when they lose the ball. You look at City when they lose the ball. You look at Liverpool when they lose the ball.
“They arrive together, to press, for 90 minutes. They have quality, but they also have strength, resistance, everything.” Mitrovic’s 10 goals account for 40 per cent of Fulham’s Premier League total – the highest proportion by one player in the top flight. They have lost four of their last five league games but have won two of their last three at home and 15 of their 17 points this season have been earned at Craven Cottage. Ranieri added: “We don’t need one match to change the mood. We need more matches to change the mood.
“Of course, if there’s a good result against United then the mood of the team could be changed, but you have to see the next match.”