Fulham boss Marco Silva talks exclusively to Sky Sports to discuss how his side will deal with Arsenal's set-pieces, Alex Iwobi's 'incredible form' and Emile Smith Rowe's 'emotional' first time facing his former side .
With Fulham only three points clear of the European places, has your start surprised you?
“It didn't surprise me. I'm not saying I expected to be there at the start of the season, but the way we played can't be surprising to me, to our players and to everyone who plays the Premier League follows closely.” .
“I have to be honest with our players, we can't be surprised because in terms of performance we played very, very well. Most games we were one of the best teams on the pitch and deserve the points we took, or in some moments even more so.
“Probably at the beginning of the season, after losing so many players and again so many changes at our football club, in terms of the selection, it was more difficult to expect such a fast and strong start from ourselves, but the reality is that we signed a number of players who have established themselves very well and they have helped the others who were here to start the season well, as we have done.”
What do you think of your Sunday opponent Arsenal?
“It's a very difficult top team. Title contenders, in my opinion. They've been there for the last two seasons. Great job from Mikel (Arteta). A team with a great collective idea, great individual quality too and they're a really solid one too team.
“They are physical from (Martin) Odegaard to the top of the pitch. It is not easy for them to give the opponent the opportunity to create many chances during the match, but we will be ready for it. It is not the best week for us to prepare because it will be almost no time to prepare the match. Just assess the players, recover them and go to the match. Less time to prepare the match than them.
“In terms of freshness, they will probably be in a better place than us. They played on Wednesday [Arsenal beat Man Utd 2-0 at home]. We played on Thursday [Fulham beat Brighton 3-1 at home]. A difference of 24 hours, but it's a big difference when you have such a short time. But it is what it is. It won't be an excuse for us. We have to go into the game with the aim that we can fight for the three points, just like we did against them twice last year.”
How will you approach Arsenal's set pieces?
“We have our way of defending set pieces. We know what we are talking about. When a team like Arsenal was so strong. Of course everyone noticed that they also decided a lot of games at that time.” We know what we are dealing with, not just the players, not just the trust around the Arsenal team, around their fans about the attacking set pieces, because it is very important to trust the will and the desire that we rely on that moment ahead. They are also great takers.
“But even to give credit to our players, last season we played against Arsenal twice. We handled that moment of the game very well. Last season we even scored twice from set pieces against Arsenal and we didn't give in. That you did.” to repeat the same kind of things. We have to be focused, have confidence in ourselves, the way we are going to position ourselves and be strong at that moment. Not only defensively, but also offensively.”
How happy are you with Alex Iwobi's form this season?
“What an incredible season it has been for him. To be honest, it doesn't surprise me. As a staff we had that feeling, Alex certainly had the same feeling and so did his teammates. The way he started the season, the pre-season games, like at the first Premier League games, you start to feel: 'Okay, he's going to be even better than the season before'. We'll have Alex with all the talent he has in him, the potential he has in him, he will put everything outside this season.
“First of all, he is a very important player for me because he is very versatile. He can play in many different positions. I can move him in one football match without making many changes. Last night [against Brighton] was a good example, he played in three different positions. He adds to his game and he improves in attack. The decisions in terms of assists and goals really add to his game in a very good way and we are very happy with that.”
What did you think of Emile Smith Rowe's start at Fulham?
“He is a very important player for us. We are very happy that we have the opportunity to sign him. We knew what we were going to sign: a talented player who has not played football in the last two seasons. We know he will do that .” has less consistency at times, but he has to play more and more and train more and more.
“It's important for him not to stop, to train every day and to be able to maintain the intensity and energy that the Premier League demands of yourself, and even more so in that position. And he has to be able to respond to that.” And I'm very happy that he is with us.
“I think he's delivering what we wanted from him. And I'm going to see more consistency going forward. Yes, it's going to be my goal to help him move forward and it's going to be his goal to be more consistent performance-wise.” during the 90 minutes of the match.”
Do you think there will be extra motivation for Smith Rowe and Iwobi on Sunday when they face their former club?
“I don't really know. I've been working with Alex at Everton for a long time and now it's my second season at Fulham. Emile will be the first time he faces his former club.”
“It will probably be an emotional match for Emile. I'm not talking about extra motivation or not, but it will certainly be emotional for Emile and that's what it is. He's going to face a club he loves.” “For sure, but now he's also in love with Fulham and he's going to fight and he's going to do his utmost to win the game for us.”
Do you want to strengthen yourself during the upcoming January transfer period?
“We have to be very careful when we talk about that, first of all because this group of players deserves all the credit and deserves to be talked about, and probably not about the new players coming in.
“That's the first thing in terms of the togetherness, the friendship and the quality of dedication from them, they've been incredible.
“Secondly, it's about the quality of the players because if we want to add someone they have to add extra quality just to have a new face. I'd rather not have that if they don't add some extra for our club. extra quality costs money and let's see if you have the budget for that.”
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