Marco Silva watched his Fulham squad battle Manchester United to a 1-1 draw this Sunday. The match, part of the Premier League’s second round, left the Portuguese manager with mixed feelings. He praised his players’ effort but strongly criticized VAR for a decision during the game. Silva shared his thoughts with Sky Sports after the contest. He felt the Red Devils’ goal should not have stood, pointing to a foul on Yoro that went uncalled.
Silva spoke about the team’s showing. “The commitment to our plan made a real difference,” he stated. “Their attitude, their will, and their desire stood out. Even the players who came off the bench brought energy.” He admitted the first 15 minutes were tough. “We lost almost every duel early on,” he said. Manchester United had some strong moments, especially with Matheus Cunha. Fulham, though, also created a good chance through Josh King. United scored from a set piece, which Silva felt involved a clear foul. “Despite that, the players showed a great reaction,” he added, full of pride for the team’s fight. He also thanked the fans for their strong support. “It would have been great to start with three home points,” Silva noted, “but we faced a top opponent.”
The Manchester United goal remained a sore point for Silva. “I still can’t understand why VAR didn’t rule out that goal,” he expressed. He hinted at more thoughts but held back. “I’d love to explain everything, from the first whistle to the last,” he said. “But that’s not my job. I won’t go there.” He suggested everyone watching had seen the incident clearly. “Everyone saw what happened this afternoon at Craven Cottage,” he concluded.
Beyond the match, Silva looked at the bigger picture: the transfer market. He spoke highly of his current roster. “We have an excellent group of players,” he said. “They give their all for the shirt. They have a good mindset and are always ready to learn. They’re giving everything, as they always do. They truly love the club.” However, he made it clear that the club needs to act. “We, as a club, need some help,” he admitted. “The players and I need help. We need new signings to give us different options and better conditions.” He highlighted the positive impact of current players. “The players who have come in have been brilliant,” Silva added. “Last week was the same story, and it defined our season last year.” He pointed to Harry Wilson, who had a strong preseason, then came off the bench with a big impact. Silva also mentioned Emile Smith Rowe, calling him “important for us.” He praised Smith Rowe’s ability to score and find key positions on the field.