Marco Silva knows what Fulham can do at their best (Picture: Getty Images)

Marco Silva believes Fulham are not only capable of beating Manchester United on Sunday but going on to lift the FA Cup this season.

The Cottagers are enjoying an impressive return to the Premier League under Silva, sitting ninth in the table on 39 points and with no fears at all of relegation back to the Championship.

With the pressure off they have made a run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup but they have a tough task ahead of them if they want to reach the semis as they go to Old Trafford this weekend.

Silva believes, though, that the London side can cause an upset in Manchester and go all the way to the trophy at Wembley, although he recognises his team are the underdogs.

‘We have to prove on the pitch that we are capable of doing it (winning the FA Cup),’ Silva said. ‘If you ask me if I believe? I’m 100 per cent sure I believe. I’m not saying that we are dreaming of it.

‘I believe we are able to do it if we are at our best level, (with) full respect to Manchester United.

‘I’m humble enough to say they are the favourites, at home, they’ve won the Carabao Cup.’

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Fulham’s good form this season has taken a bit of a downturn in their last two games with back-to-back defeats to Brentford and Fulham.

Silva knows they will have to play a lot better than in those two matches and has sent a message to his senior players to step up.

‘For us to be able to win the game we have to show improvement from our last two games, it has to be the first step for us to be able to be competitive,’ said the 45-year-old.

Andreas Pereira will take on his former club at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty Images)

‘This football match is probably not natural for some of these players. But for some of the players it’s not something really new and I expect certain players from our team to pop up in these types of moments.

‘Because there are certain moments for the big players, for the big characters to pop up, and the others if it’s not natural it has to become natural.

‘It will become natural if you are competing and having these games season after season.’

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The Cottagers go to Old Trafford on Sunday.