Marco Silva Addresses Injuries, Josh King’s Composure, and Upcoming Chelsea Match

Fulham manager Marco Silva addressed reporters ahead of Thursday’s Premier League fixture against Chelsea, scheduled for a 15:00 GMT kick-off. The following are the main points from his press conference: Regarding player availability for the match, Silva stated it was “still too early to be sure on players” as they were “still assessing” them. He noted the rapid succession of matches, leading to “Less time to recover between games,” and confirmed a decision would be made for “Boxing Day’s match.” Concerning Emile Smith Rowe’s potential participation, Silva mentioned, “He got a big knock on his ankle so let’s see and we will make a decision.” Silva further confirmed that Sander Berge sustained a significant ankle knock, with a decision on his availability expected on Christmas Day. Conversely, Sasa Lukic is anticipated to be ready. Addressing Josh King’s recent performance, Silva remarked, “It was a good performance for him [last match].” He added that while “It was a surprise for some people that he was so composed, but it wasn’t a surprise for us,” explaining, “I took the decision [to start him] because I saw that he is ready.” Silva further described King as “a really good boy who is focused on his goals and the team’s.” Regarding the upcoming match against Chelsea, Silva stated, “They are very, very good. It is quite clear there.” He acknowledged Chelsea as “A football club that has spent money in such a short period of time, the quality was there.” Silva also noted the challenge for young players to find a club with “so many young players performing,” adding that Chelsea’s players “are very good and very confident to play in that system.” He concluded by observing, “They have been dominant in most of their games. It’s another big challenge for us.”