Antonee Robinson has sights set on 'incredible' Fulham achievement ahead of Premier League clash v Aston Villa - 'Goal is European qualification'
Published 02/05/2025 at 09:12 GMT+1
Antonee Robinson believes Fulham can bring European football back to Craven Cottage next season, as he looked ahead to an intriguing battle with fellow challengers Aston Villa on Saturday - a match live on TNT Sports and discovery+. The USA international highlighted the importance of securing a top-eight Premier League finish, as Fulham's players look to dust off their passports.
'The goal is European qualification' - Robinson relishing 'big chance' to close gap on Villa
Video credit: TNT Sports
Antonee Robinson says Fulham have their focus on securing European football at Craven Cottage next season heading into their Premier League showdown with Aston Villa on Saturday – live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Marco Silva's side sit eighth on 51 points, six points and one place adrift of Villa heading into the final four Premier League games of the season.
An eighth-place finish could be enough to secure UEFA Conference League football and Robinson is eager to seize that opportunity.
He told TNT Sports: "Now the goal is European qualification, especially with Villa coming up, that's a big chance to close the gap on them.
"If we do manage to win that game, we'll be able to go within touching distance of them and keep the teams below us away from us.
"As it stands, eighth could mean European football, which would be incredible. I think we're one win off Fulham's record Premier League points total [53 in the 2008/09 season].
"A couple of seasons ago, we had a chance to beat, but fell short by a point [52 in the 2022/23 season].
"So that's another little goal we can go to achieve, but I think just we're just going into these last four games with no pressure.
"We want to play with as much intensity as we can, give the fans something they can enjoy watching, and enjoy grafting for three points."
The USA international also had his say on his toughest opponents, singling out Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo for their ability to drag you into uncomfortable positions on the pitch.
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'Bernabeu silenced!' – Silva gives Man City lead inside two minutes with cheeky free-kick
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I said earlier on in the season that those types of players are more challenging because there's only a handful of players who I feel can beat me one-v-one when I'm feeling well.
"Bernardo Silva can still go at you one-v-one, but he took up some really uncomfortable positions where he was pulling me out and making space in other directions. Players like him are difficult to play against.
"Also, someone like Semenyo, who is really strong, really powerful and incredibly two-footed, can go both ways. When you're playing against someone like [Mohamed] Salah or [Bukayo] Saka, at least you know they're really left-footed, so you know if they go on their right, they're less likely to pull something off.
"Whereas with Semenyo, he can go either way and make something happen."
The 27-year-old has been an almost ever-present figure in Silva's team this season, playing in 33 of Fulham's 34 Premier League games, missing his first match in last Saturday's 2-1 win at Southampton due to injury.
When asked if it had been his best campaign to date, Robinson replied: "Potentially. I think of this season and last season as both up there in terms of standards I've set and showing what I'm capable of doing as a player, so it's definitely up there for me."
When is Aston Villa v Fulham?
Aston Villa host Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday, May 3.
Kick-off is at 12:30 BST, with live coverage starting on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ from 11:00 BST.
TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.
Aston Villa v Fulham will be live on TNT Sports 1 with coverage from 11:00 UK time on Saturday, May 3, ahead of kick-off at 12:30.
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