Marco Silva
Fulham manager Marco Silva expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Craven Cottage. Silva highlighted the team’s strong start and organizational discipline, which kept Arsenal at bay for much of the match.
Marco Silva said: “I think we did start very well. The first 25 to 30 minutes were at a very good level from us. The way our organisation kept them away from creating clear chances was really pleasing to see. It was another good chance for us, and until then there was nothing from Arsenal in terms of chances.”
Silva continued: “In the last 15 minutes of the first half, they pushed more forward and controlled more of the game. Not with big chances, but with some good shots from the edge of the box. In the second half, they started better, but the reality is that until they scored and took the lead, there was nothing really special from them.”
He added: “Not playing so well like in the first 30 minutes — I would have liked to see our team with better quality on the ball. We knew Arsenal would press us higher, and sometimes that’s not easy, but I think we had the chances to play more, to connect our game a little bit better, and to have moments to settle.”
Silva concluded: “We have a lot of absences right now, but the attitude from the players, the work ethic, and the organisation was there most of the time. Arsenal are in a great moment — a tough side to play against. We had a better first half, and I would have liked to see us in the second half do more or less what we did in the first 30 minutes.”
Despite the loss, Silva’s comments reflect a positive outlook on Fulham’s performance, particularly in the opening stages of the match. The manager acknowledged the challenges posed by Arsenal’s high pressing game but emphasized the potential for improvement in ball retention and connection in play. Fulham’s current injury list was noted as a factor, yet Silva praised the players’ attitude and organizational efforts. Arsenal’s current form was also acknowledged, underscoring the difficulty of the task Fulham faced.
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