‘He’s Mitro… he doesn’t need this kind of incentive’: Fulham boss Marco Silva insists Aleksandar Mitrovic has no extra motivation to return to Old Trafford after being sent off and suspended last time he played there
- Aleksandar Mitrovic was shown a red card in his last game at Old Trafford
- He was sacked for grabbing referee Chris Kavanagh during the FA Cup match
- Striker was subsequently handed an eight-game suspension for his post-game actions
Fulham boss Marco Silva insists Aleksandar Mitrovic has nothing to prove on his return to Old Trafford after an FA Cup meltdown there in March.
Mitrovic was handed an eight-match ban after grabbing referee Chris Kavanagh during Fulham’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester United.
The Serbian striker has scored three goals in two games since returning from suspension – taking his tally for the season in all competitions to 15 – and ends his best top-flight season back at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Asked if Mitrovic will be especially excited against United, Silva said: ‘No, not at all. Mitro doesn’t need this kind of incentive.
“I think he showed in 25 minutes against Southampton that it doesn’t matter which club he plays against,[and]against Palace last week.
Aleksandar Mitrovic was sent off during Fulham’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester United
“He’s Mitro, he doesn’t need to play against certain types of teams or in certain situations to be more motivated.”
Fulham will finish the season in 10th whatever happens at United – their first Premier League finish in the top half since they finished ninth in 2012 – but the Cottagers have powerful incentive to finish the season on a high.
The win will set a new Premier League points record for the club, a draw will equal the 53 points achieved in 2008-09 under Roy Hodgson.
Silva said: ‘It’s been a brilliant season for us, there’s no doubt about that. For everything, not just because of the function that we should be proud of.
‘The position we’re going to achieve, the way we’re going to get there. The way we continue to improve the individual and collective of our team. It’s been really good.
“We knew before this season started that it would be crucial for this club to stay in the Premier League.
Thanks to the players for having the right mindset, they are always ready to learn and work.
“They also bought our ideas and philosophy about the way we are going to play football.”
Mitrovic was handed an eight-game suspension after grabbing referee Chris Kavanagh
United secured a top four place and Champions League football next season by beating Chelsea 4-1 on Thursday.
Erik ten Hag’s team expects a smashing farewell to Old Trafford on Sunday for next weekend’s FA Cup final with neighbors Manchester City.
“They’ve already played one final (Carabao Cup) and they’re going to play another one,” said Silva, whose side suffered late league and cup defeats to United this season.
“For a club like Manchester United it is very important that they fight for a number of titles. They’ve changed some things (this season), they’ve brought in good players – two or three who also had a huge impact on their team.
“I think they have shown this season that they are a big club.
“The individual quality they have in my opinion is evident in the best teams in this league.
“They have players in the attack line and in midfield who can decide the game in one second if you go out.”