Unveiling Marco Silva's Unparalleled Ambition: Delving into the Inner Workings of Fulham's Fearless Manager

Fulham manager Marco Silva appears to have a strong connection to the number six, as we meet him on a pleasant autumn morning at the club's training base in south-west London. This number represents the total of Premier League matches played by the Cottagers this season, with an equal distribution of wins, draws, and losses. Additionally, it symbolizes the number of years Fulham had, up until this year, been alternating between the Premier League and Championship.

Silva has been managing in England for six years now, starting from his time at Hull in 2017. Initially labeled as the 'new Mourinho', a common comparison for Portuguese managers, the 46-year-old has developed his own unique approach after gaining experience with clubs like Sporting Lisbon and Olympiakos. What sets Silva apart is his emphasis on ambition and courage as key elements of his managerial style.

"My management style is built upon key principles," he shares exclusively with We ahead of the Monday Night Football showdown with Chelsea.

"I prioritize ambition, bravery, and the determination to play football in the way I train my teams. These qualities are what I look for on match days. I have a strong preference for attractive football, as it reflects my managerial style and my high expectations. I, as their manager, am their biggest supporter in all aspects."

I began my journey in the lower divisions of Portugal. As time went on, I experienced growth and had the opportunity to participate in various competitions, including the Europa League and Champions League, with two different clubs.

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Marco Silva had previously managed at Hull, Watford and Everton in England before joining Fulham

These scenarios provide you with the experience and maturity necessary to excel in every game, secure victories, and inspire those around you. I strive to continually improve myself and the players under my guidance. Furthermore, I have experienced different periods in both the Premier League and Championship, during which adaptability is paramount. However, one constant in my teams is the insistence on ambition, competitiveness, and striving for victory in every match we play.

The Premier League is renowned as the ultimate test and the top-notch competition worldwide. It showcases a remarkable gathering of exceptional players and managers, which is precisely where I aspire to be. Every match presents a thrilling chance for personal growth and the opportunity to confront the very best athletes. The profound respect that the league holds for the game is truly captivating. Even before I experienced it firsthand, I knew that the Premier League encompassed everything I adore. Its enduring appeal is one of the primary reasons I continue to thrive within its embrace.

'Leno one of the best signings we have made'

Being a foreign manager in this place for an extended period and consecutively for numerous years can be exceptionally challenging. However, I thrive on the pressure and consider it a personal and professional aspiration for myself and my team to continuously push our limits.

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Marco Silva attributes Bernd Leno's exceptional performance to his standout abilities, which Fulham patiently waited for a long time before signing the player. These outstanding qualities have played a significant role in establishing stability during Fulham's journey in the Premier League. Additionally, Silva's expertise as the Portuguese manager led them to win the Championship in the 2021/22 season, securing their promotion. Notably, in the previous season, Fulham impressively finished 10th, surpassing Chelsea by eight points and two places in the rankings.

Although Aleksandar Mitrovic is often acknowledged for leading Fulham to recent triumphs, a significant portion of praise should be given to goalkeeper Bernd Leno for last season's accomplishments. Leno, who joined from Arsenal in the previous summer, excelled in preventing expected goals (xG) and topped the charts among all Premier League goalkeepers in the 2022/23 season. In fact, Leno's performance in this aspect was surpassed by only three goalkeepers in the past decade of the Premier League.

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Privacy Options are now accessible. In the previous six league matches, the German goalkeeper has achieved three clean sheets, which is equivalent to Ederson's clean sheet record for Manchester City. Hence, it comes as no surprise that Silva regards Leno as one of Fulham's most outstanding signings.

The manager expressed his enjoyment of having Bernd with them and mentioned the lengthy process of waiting for him to join. Despite a longer-than-expected timeframe, the board's efficiency in the hiring process was acknowledged.

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"It became possible due to Bernd's strong desire to join Fulham, as he is an excellent goalkeeper. He consistently demonstrates his status as one of the Premier League's top goalkeepers, leaving no room for doubt.

Adding to his significance, he is a vital asset to our team and has already earned a place in our captains group. He is undoubtedly one of our most successful acquisitions. His exceptional performance last season and his continued consistency serve as a testament to this."

'We must give players confidence to keep creating chances'

The way he approaches his work each day since arriving here is truly remarkable. He takes great pride in his efforts, constantly striving to enhance his skills and abilities. Additionally, his perpetually positive attitude and warm smile make collaborating with him an absolute delight.

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Alex Iwobi netted his inaugural goal for Fulham in a Carabao Cup match against Norwich last Wednesday. Despite having a reliable goalkeeper, Fulham is currently grappling with a scoring riddle. Mitrovic's departure to Al Hilal during the summer resulted in him leaving as the top scorer for the club, having held that title for five and a half years with the Cottagers. During the 2021/22 Championship season alone, he managed to score an impressive 43 goals in 44 matches.

Fulfilling their need for a new star striker, Fulham has successfully acquired skilled Premier League forwards: Raul Jimenez, Adama Traore, and Alex Iwobi. Nevertheless, they have fallen short in terms of scoring, having four fewer league goals compared to the same point last season. Silva expressed frustration over the team's inability to finish during a scoreless draw against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Nonetheless, despite only scoring five goals in six games (equivalent to Chelsea's tally), Fulham has made each goal count. They secured 1-0 victories against Everton and Luton with two of those goals. This impressive performance gives them the Premier League's best points-to-goal ratio (1.6) this season.

Silva naturally desires greater achievements from his Fulham players, constantly pursuing ambitious highs.

"In the early matches of the season, we did not generate as many opportunities as I would prefer. However, in the last two games, such as against Crystal Palace, we created enough chances to secure victory. Additionally, we triumphed over Norwich with a score of 2-1 in the Carabao Cup, yet we had the potential to score more goals.

In the past, our ability to score goals was limited, although we managed to achieve significant results due to our determination, as our overall creativity was lacking.

Patience is crucial in any process, including allowing the players to develop a strong bond. Ensuring the perfect timing and connection with the players is always essential.

Adama did not participate in any team's pre-season, as he exclusively trained with his personal fitness coach. He is already injured and will require more time before he can contribute to our team. On the other hand, Alex was already playing for his former team and although he needs time to blend in, his familiarity with the Premier League will speed up the adaptation process.

Fortunately, Raul had sufficient time to train with us, enabling him to be included in the starting lineup against Everton. However, it will still take him time to adjust, familiarize himself with the team dynamics, and get to know his teammates. This is a normal progression given the circumstances, but it is crucial for us to generate more opportunities for our team.

In order to succeed, our team must continue to exert relentless effort and provide our players with the necessary resources and components to navigate specific zones on the field. By instilling confidence in them, we enable them to generate opportunities and enhance the efficiency of our counter-attacks.

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Aleksandar Mitrovic left Fulham this summer for a move to Saudi Arabia

We constantly crave more and are willing to strive for it, but we must also maintain a sense of realism. I must acknowledge the dedication and perseverance of our players, as our pre-season was exceptionally challenging. It was perhaps one of the most demanding periods I have experienced as a manager, due to various factors such as injuries and other obstacles we encountered.

However, despite these difficulties, we managed to find our rhythm and compete fiercely against our opponents from the very start of pre-season. Since then, our focus has been on continuous improvement, consistently striving to enhance our performance in every game we play.

'We respect Chelsea, but fans can be the difference'

Fulham will have the opportunity to apply the lessons learned during their training sessions when they go head-to-head with Chelsea on Monday Night Football starting at 6.30pm on We Premier League and Main Event. Mauricio Pochettino's team is currently facing immense pressure due to their worst start to a top-flight season since 1978/79 after the first six matches.

Silva expressed caution regarding the quality of Chelsea, bearing in mind that Fulham emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline in their previous encounter in January. The manager is urging the home fans to play a crucial role as a "12th man" when Chelsea visits Craven Cottage.

"This match holds utmost significance for us as it is the next one, and that's how we always approach it," Silva elucidated.

Prior to the Norwich game, I did not engage in any discussions with the players regarding the Chelsea match. Our complete attention was directed towards the Norwich game. Following a day off, we will commence preparations for the upcoming clash against Chelsea on Monday.

This derby holds immense significance, as it evokes a unique sentiment among our supporters. The positive experiences and emotions we created for them in the previous season underline its importance."

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"We are fully committed to meticulously preparing, as we always do, and we hold a deep regard for Chelsea. While they may not have had the ideal start, their name holds significant weight, given the exceptional individual talents they possess. Nevertheless, our aim is to compete on an equal footing, especially since we are playing on our home turf."

I strongly desire for our fans to actively participate in this game, providing unwavering support to the team from start to finish. I am unequivocally certain that there will be standout moments during the game. However, there may also be instances where the advantage lies with Chelsea, and it is crucial for us to have the backing of our supporters.

Our aim is to delight in the match, to showcase our abilities, and to challenge and equalize with our opponents. The 12th man, signifying our fans, will play a pivotal role.

Fulham's signs of another successful season are apparent. With some enhancements and Silva's determination for ambition and bravery within his team, the Cottagers can pose as a formidable threat to any opponent. Tune in to the live coverage of the Fulham vs Chelsea match on Monday Night Football starting at 6.30pm on We Premier League and Main Event.