To Fulham head coach Marco Silva, avoiding relegation in the 2024/25 season set the club on course for a record-breaking 2025/26 season. After last year’s successful campaign, the team finished mired in the middle of the table. Today, Silva is focused on pushing Fulham up the Premier League table, far away from relegation concerns. His strategic vision and recent player acquisitions signal a new chapter for the club, as they seek to capitalize on their potential.
After their surprise promotion last season, Fulham found themselves comfortably placed in the top half of the Premier League for considerable portions of the season. Though they ended up placing lower than she would’ve liked, Silva felt really good about how far they came. He commented on this by saying, “It’s very easy. We spent a lot of time in the middle of the table, around the top 10 last season. Before the two last months of the season, we were in positions to fight for the European places.”
After addressing Cambridge’s budget concerns through increased investment, Silva then looked to build a squad with clear player profiles. He emphasized the importance of a more traditional one-v-one player who can stretch defenses. That search has led him to acquire Kevin, a player he figures can make a huge difference to Fulham’s attacking thrust. Having brought Richarlison to England when he was manager of Watford, Silva had already shown his eye for a player.
One of Silva’s biggest successes has been in the form of helping rejuvenate players. His work with Willian, who experienced a career resurgence at ages 33 and later at 36, speaks volumes about Silva’s capacity to revive players’ careers. He’s now excited to pass his mentorship along to Kevin. Kevin made an auspicious 20-minute cameo appearance for Fulham in their dramatic London Derby draw against Leeds last weekend. The display created buzz not only among Cottagers fans, but perhaps signalling the start of a long and prosperous collaboration.
“When you come and show quality, people will respect you, they will understand why you came in. Some people take more time to do it, some people can have an impact straight away.” – Marco Silva
Silva’s first match in charge of Fulham was more remembered for its thrilling 5-1 score line against Leeds, shedding new light on an otherwise unnoteworthy match. The team’s performance demonstrated Silva’s philosophy in action, aiming to inspire players to embrace their capabilities and deliver on the pitch.
Expectations are very much through the roof heading into the new campaign, with Silva encouraging his already record-breaking squad to push for even more records in 2023. He stated, “Some of the other teams around us did very well, but we broke that points tally. That is the big thing. If we can break it again, for sure we will be in the top half of the table, and then we can fight for something important.” This ambition reflects not only his ambition for success but his ambition for development at the club.
Challenges remain. Silva has pointed out that VAR has played a negative role in Fulham’s recent form over their last three matches. “I don’t want the players to feel that we have been very unfortunate, or VAR is coming against us every single time,” he remarked, indicating that external factors should not detract from their focus and performance.
On the transfer front, Fulham first brought in Fulham’s backup goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte on loan. As Deadline Day neared, their inactivity became a cause of concern for supporters. Silva’s pursuit of Kevin is part of a clear trend toward deeper, more aggressive tactics in assembling the most competitive roster possible.
Silva has proven wary to work new signings into the club’s first-team setup. His insistence on not rushing Kevin into action reflects a long-term strategy aimed at maximizing each player’s potential while fostering team cohesion.
Overall, as Fulham look forward to life back in the Premier League, Marco Silva’s Arsenal-influenced approach seems like a smart mix of ambition and realism. Yet he still believes that breaking records should be as important as cultivating new talent. With this approach, Fulham is well-placed to fight for even more vaunted trophies in English football.
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