Marco Silva is ‘nonetheless dreaming’ of taking Fulham to the highest of the Premier League
Marco Silva still has ambitions to manage at the top end of the Premier League – and dreams of taking Fulham there with him.
The Cottagers, sitting mid-table coming into the weekend, will be looking to jump even higher on Sunday with a victory over in-form neighbours Brentford.
And asked if, like his much-admired Bees counterpart Thomas Frank, he views himself capable of coaching at the elite level or is simply satisfied with life in charge of Fulham, Silva delivered an affirmative response to both questions.
The Portuguese, a candidate for the Manchester United job until it went to friend and countryman Ruben Amorim, said: “Everything I achieved yesterday or last month is not enough.
“This is the only way I can be in this job and it’s the reason why we’re here. To fight for more, with the ambition to improve players and, as a consequence, the club in all aspects of the football.
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“For myself, it is the same. I’m never pleased with what we’ve achieved. I always want more and more and more. And the only way to get to the other levels…is with your club. But, of course, when you reach this level, you have to be realistic about the conditions you are then in.”
Ex-Sporting boss Silva had successful, short spells at Hull and Watford before jumping ship for Everton and getting sacked 18 months later.
Now into his fourth year at Fulham, Silva, 47, went on: “This is my longest spell at any club and that suggests consistency in the job and the quality to work with players, maybe lose some and rebuild.
(Image: Getty Images)
“This means you are able to show the capacity to improve players and a team and that’s the main thing you want.” Meanwhile, Silva is adamant the punters can anticipate fireworks on the pitch when the West London rivals meet at the Cottage – fittingly just 24 hours before official Bonfire Night.
Ahead of Fulham’s second of 12 all-capital clashes in 2024-25, Silva, whose side took 16 of a possible 36 points from those games last term, admitted: “I know it happens at this time of year. You feel it in England. Let’s hope it’s a great night and our fans are celebrating at the end.
“Derbies are special but some more so than others for our fans. For example, this one and the one on Boxing Day (at Chelsea) are very special.”
