“Probably, I’m never going to change,” Marco Silva says, laughing at himself.
Three years ago, we were sat in this same room at Fulham’s training ground, and he suggested, in time, he would find balance to his all-in approach to his job. That he would find a way to switch off.
But here we are again, three years on, and his intensity, work ethic and passion is as strong as ever.
He has now come to the conclusion that: “Even with 10 more years, or 15 years I’m not going to change.”
It means too much. “My job is the way I live something that I love, football,” he says.
“I don’t know another way to be in football, another way to be every single day with my players, another way to make them better every single day and to make the club progress and grow.”
Silva’s passion for pushing Fulham forwards is a clear theme throughout our conversation. His contract may be up in the summer and the new deal offered to him remains unsigned on the table, but Fulham fans can be encouraged by the wholeheartedness he continues to pour into his work.
But certainly, now is not the moment for letting up.
Fulham’s season could well be defined by what happens over the next four weeks, starting with Sunday’s trip to Sunderland, live on Sky Sports.
Fulham play five Premier League fixtures – against sides they have already beaten this season – and an FA Cup fifth-round tie at home to Southampton before the next international break.
After a disappointing run of four Premier League defeats in five games, the opportunity is there to close the gap on the European qualification spots and go deep in the FA Cup.
Sunday 22nd February 12:30pm
Kick off 2:00pm
“As you come close to the end of the season, the games are more decisive,” says Silva.
“Until the international break, there are important fixtures there, an important game in the FA Cup. It’s going to be crucial and is going to dictate what you are going to fight for.
“Even if in the Premier League it’s difficult to say right now because everything is so tight.
“With two or three good results, we are in a very good position. With two or three bad results, we are going to be down on the table. It just shows the competitiveness of this league.”
Since winning the Championship in his first season at Fulham, Silva has steered the club to 10th, 13th and 11th in the Premier League.
Fulham have become established as a Premier League team and last season there was a club-record Premier League points total of 54. But there is also a prevailing feeling the team has been unable to kick into another gear in the home straight over the past couple of campaigns.
So what is it this group needs to add to become challengers for the European spots?
“It’s demanding,” says Silva. “You have to be very consistent to achieve it.
“Sometimes it’s not about quality. I think all the people that follow the Premier League and know the way we play, know when you are at our best level, you are very difficult to play against.
“But the Premier League demands other things from you. To not have moments that we switch off. Because if you have these types of moments, usually in a Premier League game, you are going to get punished.
“Our big challenge for ourselves as a team – with massive respect for the opposition – is about ourselves and how are we going to get more consistency from us.
“This is a competition against ourselves, for us to get to that level in terms of consistency. That is very important in the Premier League.”
‘The improvements have been massive – but we want more’
The late goals Fulham have conceded are a frustration. Seven of their 13 defeats this season have come by way of an opposition goal in the 80th minute or later. “Keep the focus and to be state-wise in some moments of the games,” Silva notes as an area to improve on.
But the perspective of where Fulham were when Silva arrived and where they are now, with the ambitions they have for the end of the season is important too.
“If you have 10 seconds, one minute and time to breathe and to go back and to look at the picture, I know the fans are incredibly proud of ourselves,” says Silva. “They should be really proud of the football players in this long journey. It has been almost five seasons.
Marco Silva joined Fulham in July 2021 and has led them to the Championship title and then 10th, 13th, 11th in the Premier League
“I don’t forget one second my first day in the football club. The huge transformation in the football club. The improvements have been massive.
“Everybody recognises how Fulham is a Premier League club right now. We have been growing and growing as a club. Inside the pitch you can feel it.”
And yet, still, Silva retains the ambition and drive to take Fulham up another level.
“But you know that for one second you can’t stand still. You have to push always for more. Because if you don’t do it, in one moment you are going to get surprised,” he adds.
“We want more. Not just myself or my staff. The players want more as well. They know that we are capable to push a little bit more.
“The challenge is there for us to do it. Let’s hope we can do it.”
