Fulham boss Marco Silva reacts to Fulhams 2-1 victory at stamford bridge for the first time since 1979.
26/12/2024
Stamford Bridge, London, UK
26/12/2024
Stamford Bridge, London, UK
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00:00I have the same feeling. I think throughout the game and considering the early goal of
00:12course is not easy and I think the first 20 minutes we gave too much space to a player
00:18like Paul Palma playing behind our midfielder line. The first goal is a good example, the
00:24first goal or the goal they scored is a good example of it. I think throughout the first
00:27half we improved in that situation, we started to control it a bit better. We had a little
00:33bit of a lack of decision in the attack because even in the first half, the way we planned
00:38the game to explore clearly, we knew that Neto or Madhu Akhi they are going to drop
00:44to follow Robinson all the way and clearly try to expose them in that area of the pitch
00:50to obligate Neto to be really down on the pitch and to expose him. In that situation
00:54I think throughout the game we did it well in the first half as well, but our decision
00:58making, the position of goal wasn't the best in some moments. Our right-hand side with
01:02Adam and Timothy were not really on the box, we didn't get enough bodies in the box.
01:09Second half was slightly different, clear, I think the reaction was stopped from ourselves.
01:15Much more bodies in the box, you see the first goal we scored is Timu, it was Jeddah inside
01:20the box and Jeddah, Robinson and Timothy in the box as well. Even the second goal was
01:25Timothy, our right-wing back inside the box, you get much more bodies inside the box. We
01:30kept creating on our left-hand side and exposing Neto in that way, the way we prepared and
01:36the players did really well. Of course we did change some things in our system, without
01:41Sunderberg it was more difficult for us to be able to play with three midfielders plus
01:46Harrison Reid, but I think we did it really well.
01:48Overall, looking to the game, tough one, the way we started, not at the best level, but
01:53our reaction, much more composure in the second half in our third attack. I really believe
01:58that we deserved the three points against a tough side. The way we built from the back
02:03was difficult for them to press, I think we beat almost always their first pressure, obligating
02:08Enzo to go always for Calvin and after when you move Sascha Lukic to the side I think
02:14we did it really well and it was more difficult for them to press as I. They were not able
02:17to do it and of course from that moment we built, we made better decisions in the second
02:21half, I think we did really well. Overall, of course, very good performance from Leno,
02:27I really believe that Sanchez had some great saves too. We played toe-on-toe with them
02:32and overall looking to the game I think we are the team that deserved more to win.
02:36Marco, in the last three weeks you've taken points of Arsenal, Liverpool and now Chelsea,
02:41what does that say about the team and how much you've improved in the levels you've
02:46hit this season?
02:47It's been great. From the beginning of December we played away from home against Tottenham,
02:53against Liverpool, now against Chelsea we play against Arsenal at home and our unbeaten run
02:58keeps going and of course was the aim for us before the match. Our speech and of course
03:03apart from the tactical things and the preparation to the game was clear about to break this
03:08record, if I can say, for such a long time. At the end it's everything about connections
03:13and we want to give this happiness for our fans. We came here with the aim, knowing that
03:17Chelsea are having a great season and it's not easy to play against them. The quality,
03:21the individual quality they have and of course the way they have been playing, the season
03:26and the massive impact from Mahrez in the football club, I think we did really well
03:31and was the aim clear to break so many years without three points here and we wanted really
03:36to give this happiness for our fans on Boxing Day, a special day of course and the next
03:42few days for them to have this great feeling and showed really. This afternoon we were
03:47without four or five key players for us, that is the reality. In the middle of the park
03:52and the middle end of the pitch, our solutions were not the best. It was one of the reasons
03:55why it changed because we have been sometimes dropping Alex Siobi to be the fifth defender.
04:00This afternoon we tried to do something different because without Sanderbeg, without Harrison
04:03Reid, Sascha not, before the game we had some doubts about if he was going to be fit or
04:08not. We decided to go in a different direction but show the way we have been growing. Even
04:13without Emile Smith-Rowe, without Lewis Nelson, Harrison Reid, Sander, as I said to you, Kenny
04:17Tetty, that has been fantastic for us. The group is responding really well and it's been
04:22great. The players that came from the bench, another big impact, they made a big impact
04:26in the game and for us it represents many things but it's much more for our fans. They
04:30deserve the feeling that they have right now and let's hope they can keep supporting us
04:35and we can keep giving this happiness for them.
04:47Yes, but this result is not going to change our ambition. I know that it represents really
04:53big things for the football club. I know what it means to play a local derby. I told
04:58the players two things apart from the others about the fans and of course this game should
05:03be played like a proper derby. You have to come here to play on tour with them. Massive
05:08respect for what they have been doing but it should be played like that and we did it.
05:13And we did it. At the end, I know that it represents a lot of things for the club, for
05:17our fans. To be honest, for me, it represents three points. That is the main thing. If you
05:22are not going to win or to get points in the next one, at the end it's not going to represent
05:26many things and it's not because one game we are going to change our ambition or something.
05:31Because if we drew against Southampton last game, you are going to change the ambitions
05:36because you drew again. It doesn't make sense. We know clearly we want to finish in the top
05:39half of the table and to be in the top half of the table means that you have to fight
05:42for many different things. Let's see what is going to be the position that you are going
05:46to end the season but we are not going to hide ourselves. Apart from the words, I can
05:50be talking about the position A, B or C or the goal is this one or that one. We have
05:55to show that on the pitch on a match day. That is the most important thing that works.
06:20Of course, it gives us even more confidence, definitely. Winning a game, of course, I think
06:29we are 80 minutes of the game we are losing the game. It's not the first time this season.
06:35Coincidentally it was in another derby as well against Brentford. Of course, it gives
06:43the players even more confidence if they need it really but that we are able to change any
06:49game at any time. Of course, the impact of the players coming from the bench is really
06:53important for us and it's not a coincidence that we are the team with more players coming
06:56from the bench than they have been scoring. It's already the ninth goal from the players
06:59coming from the bench. It means that everybody is on the same page and understands that the
07:03team is always above everything and the reaction was really good. Let's hope that can give
07:08us the confidence for the next game to get three points in a tough game against Bournemouth.
07:14But the main thing that the players understood really well, we had a short period between
07:18one game and the other. We changed some things in our set-up. We have been working on it,
07:23the three at the back in some moments, building with three and the players understood it well
07:26and executed it well. That is the main thing for us and let's hope that can boost even
07:31more our confidence as a team.