Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno praised manager Marco Silva after defeat to Manchester United.

Silva has had plenty of detractors in his time in English football. But the 45-year-old has whipped this Fulham squad into some shape.

“He's worked a lot on details, he's very, very demanding, and in training you can see that," Leno told the London Evening Standard.

“He's doing very well and the philosophy is great.

“We can play short, we can play long, set-pieces, and everything.

“So it makes it very hard to be predictable."

Fulham will eventually get back into the Premier League swing at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day, with Leno determined the side will not let their momentum slip.

“Maybe when the frustrations settle down we can appreciate the way we played against United," added Leno.

“The way we dominated such a big team was impressive. But also maybe the last pass, the last cross was not quite top.

“Ninth in the table at the break though, that is excellent to be honest.

“The way we play, it's not that we are lucky to be winning games, we deserve every point."

The Fulham stars not headed to Qatar will take a two-week holiday before stepping straight back into the top-flight battle.

“After two weeks we'll be ready to fight again, we'll go again with a training camp," said Leno.

“Then from Christmas we'll be right back at it."