Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui believes his side are in for a difficult challenge as they prepare to welcome Fulham to the Molineux Stadium on Friday.
Lopetegui has done an outstanding job guiding Wolves out of the bottom three and up to 15th in the Premier League table. But the job is not done yet, with just three points separating them from 18th-placed West Ham United.
Wolves have been a better team under the guidance of the Spanish manager, winning three of their last five games. They will be keen to register another positive result to bolster their bid to avoid relegation.
However, Lopetegui has called on his side to be ready for the game as Fulham, who have their eyes set on a place in Europe next season.
“As always with each match in the Premier League, it’s going to be a very hard task,” Lopetegui told reporters (via Football Daily).
“It’s a challenge, a chance for us – we are going to play against one of the teams that is in the best way now. They are playing very well, they score, they have good players, and they play a lot of times, the same players in the same line-up.
“They have a very good coach. I know Marco [Silva] he’s doing fantastic work, and in the same way, it’s a challenge for us, and we have to be ready to develop for a good match tomorrow.”
Fulham have been the feelgood story of the Premier League campaign, with the Cottagers firmly in the mix for a place in Europe next season.
They are currently unbeaten in their last three games, winning the previous two, and are sitting in sixth place, just four points adrift of the top four.
However, Silva’s side cannot afford to slip up with Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool hot on their heels. Both clubs are just three points behind and have played two games less than the Cottagers.
