Fulham coach Marco Silva acknowledged that fixtures don’t come much trickier than Manchester City away, but wants Fulham to try and imprint themselves on the match. Saturday will be our second trip to the Etihad this calendar year, having flown out of the blocks in an FA Cup tie there in February. A fourth minute strike from Fabio Carvalho put us in front that day before we ultimately slipped to defeat, but Silva is keen for a similarly positive mindset at the weekend.
Marco Silva said: “The next one will be probably one of the most difficult ones at this level, in my opinion, against the best team in this competition, probably one of the best in the world as well. Top, top quality all over the pitch, with a philosophy that is really difficult to play against, with one of the best, if not the best, manager in the world as well. It means that the target and the challenge is really tough for us, but we have to embrace it. We had a good example last season when we played against them in the FA Cup. Our first half was really, really good, and if we could repeat that first half I will be delighted because the way we played was really impressive, impressive for me as a manager, and we will try to replicate the same thing again. When we have the ball, we have to express ourselves, we have to attack them. If you don’t attack them, if you don’t try to score, your chances to get a good result will be really low. They are aware of our quality for sure, I know that, but we have to try to attack them.”
Asked if facing City is a unique proposition compared to any other side,
Marco Silva replied: “They are different to all the others, and we have to be realistic. We have top, top teams in this competition, and they are not even in the top of the table. I don’t want to be unfair with the team that is in the top right now, that is Arsenal, but of course [City] are different. They are the most difficult one to play against, in my opinion. They have the quality, but for sure some teams can compete and can beat them, and let’s hope we can. It will be really difficult for us, but it’s our obligation to try.”
Erling Haaland has just the 22 goals to his name after joining City in the summer, but he has not featured since being withdrawn at half-time in the Champions League on October 25th. Silva, though, is working on the assumption that the Norwegian will be fit.
Marco Silva said: “Top, top striker, with the impact that he made in that squad. We know they are really tough to beat when they play at home. Their average goals scored this season is impressive in the Premier League, more than four goals per game when playing at home. It’s an impressive number at this level, and of course Haaland is a key player for them. Let’s see, [his involvement] is more for Pep than for us. We prepare for the game thinking that he will play.”
