Fulham vs. Brentford: The Spectacle of the Summer – Expect the Unexpected Key Data Points – Fulham ended last season in 10th place. Brentford bagged the 9th position in the previous season, Aleksandar Mitrovic, in spite of off-field distractions, managed to score 14 goals for Fulham during the last season.
Fulham are all set to begin their training for the 2023-24 season with a friendly match against Premier League peer Brentford. Slated for Sunday night, this game lays the groundwork for the prestigious Premier League Summer Series being held in the United States.
Marco Silva, the skipper of Fulham’s team, is faced with the unique task of preparing for the season’s first match against Everton on August 12. On the flip side, Brentford will start their league campaign with a home game against Tottenham Hotspur the following day. Prior to these crucial Premier League matches, the Summer Series will pit Fulham and Brentford against top teams like Chelsea, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Fulham Focus The tale of Fulham’s pre-season journey thus far is certainly captivating. Even though they haven’t played a friendly this summer, the team has remained in the limelight. There have been strong rumors suggesting that Marco Silva, the team’s manager, could be lured away by an attractive offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahly, with a lucrative £400,000 weekly contract reportedly up for grabs.
Adding to this, there is a sense of uncertainty surrounding star player Aleksandar Mitrovic. He is reportedly unhappy at Fulham and is rumored to be looking for an exit, but high transfer fees are proving to be a hurdle. All these off-field events seem to be casting a shadow over the club’s pre-season.
Nevertheless, Fulham, who landed a commendable 10th position in the previous Premier League season, are resolved to prepare well for the upcoming games. Willian, who has recently signed a one-year contract extension with the club, will play a key role in these preparations as part of the strong Cottagers squad traveling to the US.
Building Brentford In contrast to Fulham’s dramatic pre-season, Brentford’s journey has been relatively smooth. They kick-started their preparation for the 2023-24 season with a 1-1 stalemate against Boreham Wood on July 12, and the Bees have been buzzing since. Following a successful 2022-23 season that delivered them 59 points from 38 games and a ninth-place finish, head coach Thomas Frank is under pressure to maintain the momentum.
To reinforce the team, Brentford have roped in three players this summer – Nathan Collins, Mark Flekken, and Kevin Schade, bolstering their formidable squad for the Summer Series. However, they will miss their star striker Ivan Toney due to an eight-month suspension for breaching Football Association betting rules.
