Marco Silva Discusses January Transfers, Team Performance, and Brighton Match

Fulham manager Marco Silva addressed the media ahead of the Premier League fixture against Brighton scheduled for Thursday, with kick-off at 19:30 GMT. The following are the main points from his press conference. Regarding team availability, centre-back Joachim Andersen and midfielder Harrison Reed are still unavailable due to injury; however, Silva reported no other injury worries. Tom Cairney and Sasa Lukic are serving suspensions, while Andreas Pereira is cleared to play. When questioned about potential acquisitions during the January transfer window, Silva stated: “All managers and clubs want the same; to step forward and improve if you can. I’m no different. Someone coming to our football club has to be someone who can have an impact. If we can improve something, we will do our best. Of course it has to be right with our budget and the moment of the season.” Silva further commented: “For someone to come, they have to be a really good player because we have been playing really well, the players have been doing well and they have to be able to make an impact.” Reflecting on the season to date, Silva remarked: “I’m proud because I can feel that we all have confidence. Sometimes it comes from results, other times from the way you perform. We all share the same confidence because we all know the way we work and the players know their abilities as well. When you see fans proud, I have to be proud because our job is to make them proud. If we play any side and are at our best, then it is difficult for them [the opposition] as well.” Silva commended centre-back Issa Diop, who recently started his first match in over a month during Sunday’s draw against Tottenham. Silva stated: “He’s a really vocal player in our group, he understands really well our ideas and philosophy as a team. He needs to have more confidence in himself sometimes because when he’s at his best level, he’s always able to step in – like he did in the last game.” Regarding Brighton, Silva commented: “They have a clear identity as a club. When they go into the market, they have been able what they really need and want.” He further noted that Brighton’s summer expenditures “shows the ambition of the club right now.”