'I am living in my present' - Jokanovic not worried by talk of Fulham sacking

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic claims speculation over his job is not affecting his ability to concentrate on keeping the Cottagers in the Premier League.

The 50-year-old head coach has been in charge at Craven Cottage for three years, overseeing their promotion from the Championship into the top flight last term.

Unfortunately, despite an influx of summer signings, Fulham have struggled defensively over the first two-and-a-half months of the 2018-19 campaign, losing seven of their ten fixtures and conceding 28 goals in the process - the worst record in the league.

Despite their woes on the pitch, Jokanovic is adamant his focus has not waned, although he does recognise that he finds himself in a precarious position heading into a busy winter period for the club.

"I am living in my present, it is a natural question to come from your side when you are not winning games,” he said in the Evening Standard. 

“This question is normal. Really, I am thinking about the next training, what is the best way to help my team and the best way to make another plan for the next game. This is only what I focus around. I cannot think about different things."

The Fulham boss went on to address his relationship with club owner Shahid Khan, who publicly backed him in his programme notes ahead of the team's 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth on Saturday by saying he was "amused, astonished and disappointed" by rumours suggesting Jokanovic could be axed.

“I have a really good relationship with the owner but it is our professional relationship," he continued. "He expects from my side, like the supporters expect, victories. 

“At the end it is natural he cannot be satisfied with our situation like I cannot be or my players or supporters. 

“Personally, our relationship is fantastic, but he didn’t bring me here because I am a good lad or something, he brought me here to win games and this is my challenge and my work.”

Next up for Fulham is a Carabao Cup clash against Manchester City on Thursday, before an away trip to Huddersfield in the Premier League the following Monday.