Silva on Fulham’s season opening loss at Man Utd

NicheSportMedia

16/08/2024  Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester U.K.

Transcript

00:00It's a tough game, as we expected. It's always tough to play here. It's a good battle. I

00:09think both teams played clear to win the game.

00:12Different moments during the game too. I think we started really well the game. We started

00:19some good counter-attacks, even the way we were able to beat the pressure from Man Utd

00:26from the first minute until half of the first half, the first 20 minutes of the first half.

00:32I think we did really well. I have to say that we started on the front foot and very

00:38good reaction after that from Man Utd. They pushed us back and we were not able to play

00:43the way we like and with the composure on the ball, normally we do it. Of course they

00:48were there, not big chances for them apart from one moment that we lost the ball in our

00:51build-up and they had a big chance. But the last 20 minutes of the first half, Man Utd,

00:59the opposite of our first minutes, they were really good.

01:02We adjusted some things at half-time in the second half. Different, we were able to defend

01:07a bit higher, not around our box like the last 20 minutes of the first half. A bit more

01:12aggressive too and I think we did control better the game in the second half. Chances

01:18for Man Utd, we had some moments, two against one with Andres Pereira and Alex against Maguire

01:23that we should have done much better. Four against two, three against two, so many counter-attacks

01:29that with better decisions we have to create clear chances in that moment. After the last

01:3510-15 minutes the game went in a direction that we knew and the players were aware of

01:41it that we cannot let the game go just for the emotional part. We knew that it's the

01:46part of the game where Man Utd normally can punish because when the game is completely

01:49broken, because if you keep your organisation and you are well organised it's much more

01:56difficult for them. When the game is completely broken, they had a chance to put some players

02:00that had an impact in the game, which Bruno can provide as well, that players are more

02:05difficult. We let the game go in the emotional part in the last 15 minutes where it shouldn't

02:10because in that moment the game should have come in the direction that we wanted. We knew

02:14that the game was going in that direction and we lost a bit of emotional control. When

02:18I see our players with some free kicks trying to rush all the decisions, even with the players

02:23on the grass trying to do it quick, we should have much more balance in decisions, to have

02:27more longer moments in possession because the pressure from Man Utd in that moment was

02:32not there no more. We should have more longer possession after to create the moments and

02:36we started to lose the ball too quick. It was a counter-attack from Man Utd, a counter-attack

02:39for us and the game can go for each side. In the last minute or the last 89 or 80 minutes

02:46they scored in one moment that the game was completely broken.

02:49I know you won here last season in February, but is there a sense of deja vu? It feels

02:55like in the last few seasons there have been quite a few matches against Man Utd where

02:58you've lost by one goal, maybe late on and you may feel that you actually deserve more

03:02from these games.

03:03It was the same story again. I believe that we deserve more from the game in terms of

03:08result, definitely. Looking overall for the game, I think we deserve more from the game.

03:14As you said, some story, the games between us and Man Utd, they have been decided by

03:20margins. The season was for us, in a game that we were clearly the best team on the

03:25pitch. Other moments they were for Man Utd too. Some late goals, tonight was more or

03:29less the same story. We have to work for the next time to write a different one because

03:34this is our way. Not consistent in all the matches, but if you can keep that quality

03:40from the first 25 minutes for a longer time, we are going to be the same full-time again.

03:46Could you maybe speak a bit about the performances of Emile Smith-Rowe on his competitive debut

03:51and also Adama Traore as well?

03:55I don't like to go in directions, just individual situations. Of course as a collective it would

03:59be much better for me to talk. It was important for him, he's still not in the best shape.

04:05He needs to give me minutes, come late as you know. He just played a half-game in the

04:12pre-season after 78 minutes last week against Hoffenheim as well. It's the first time with

04:17us, of course a bit more tired in the moment that we took him off. Some good moments, the

04:23quality that he's going to give us. If you can arrive with the ball in certain areas

04:27it can be decisive and it's going to be decisive. He's going to be 100 per cent sure a really

04:31important player for us. We are delighted to have him with us and now we are going to

04:37make him better every single day and I think he's going to show that during the matchday.

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