New Fulham head coach Marco Silva has told his first press conference that Aleksandar Mitrovic will be the club’s ‘key player’ as he targets an immediate return to the top flight.
The Serbian striker had been linked with a move away from Craven Cottage this summer after only starting eleven Premier League games under Scott Parker last season, but the Portuguese boss has wasted little time in emphasising just how important Fulham’s number nine is to his plans for promotion.
Silva said: “I think for all our football club and for the fans Mitro is a key player for us. Last season was not the best season for him, we know that and he knows that but we are here to support him and help him score important. I know his quality, I was really happy to work with him before I started. I tried to work with him twice before – he will be a key player for us”.
The former Everton and Watford manager said it was an ‘easy decision’ to accept Fulham’s approach to succeed Parker.
“I’m really happy to be back in England. It’s been a target to come back. To be honest it was an easy decision, I was close to joining a different club but I really appreciated the interest the club showed in ourselves, from [chief executive] Alastair [Mackintosh] and then [director of football] Tony [Khan] and [owner] Mr [Shahid] Khan was very important for us. Of course Fulham is a club with a big story and we want to be part of this project.”
Silva underlined the importance of former Fulham favourite Luis Boa Morte, who returned to Motspur Park this week, as his right hand man.
“I’ve known Luis since he was fourteen years old. We are friends for nineteen years. He joined me at Everton and now at Fulham. He is so important. He knows Fulham so well, he has a big history here.”
Silva confirmed that new signing Paulo Gazzaniga will provide ‘competition’ for Marek Rodak in goal and Welsh winger Harry Wilson, who arrives from Liverpool, will offer ‘creativity’. He is keen to make further additions before the start of the Championship campaign.
“I’m here working with the football club to get our squad stronger, this is the main thing for me, I know what I want from the football club. Now I will finish the third week working with them. We don’t finish, for sure we don’t finish. We are working with the club. When the market is open anything can happen.”
The Fulham boss has already made promotion his target, but knows just how competitive the Championship will be.
“It’s a clear aim for us. Not just us, there are five six clubs. The competition will be tough. But it’s our target. We have to compete and show that in every matchday. We have to show and make our fans feels we are giving 100 per cent in football matches. After that, good things, will come.”
Its so good to hear that players want to come to this club this season because of the new boss .
We have had some great promotion years at the Cottage and so here is hoping this is going to be amongst the best of those .
Wonderful to hear the words ‘ attacking football again ‘ associated with this club .
Lets hope Muniz can come here as well .
Attacking football sounds fine, but I hope we don’t sacrifice defense for a few more goals. Our defense was one of the best in the PL after the turn of this year, and we do need to stay solid at the back.
Mitro does need to come through, but will need to get better service from the wingers. I do hope we play Bryan as much as we are able, as he seems to put his positive stamp on games when he gets the chance.
Great to hear Silva talking up Mitro and giving him confidence. What a contrast to Parker who undermined him with Cav then complained he wasn’t in good form. The objective is to score more goals than the opposition. That cannot happen unless you play to your team’s forwards strengths. Ours will be getting the ball in the box for Mitro. If we can get Muniz and keep Anguissa we are in business. I like what I hear from Silva more and more.
Let’s hope Tony Khan keeps out of the way ! But I’m afraid he won’t!!
Patrick – another quote from the broadcast section of the press conference should reassure you – I couldn’t include it as I felt the story was already too long:
“All managers want to find balance. We want a team that can create chances that doesn’t give many away. Finding the balance is the perfect way to attack football matches with full confidence. You can be offensive, but we need to try to score, but if you can keep a clean sheet you have a good chance. We have to be strong in every moment.
My style is playing forward to create chances. I like the feeling of a clean sheet; we need to score, and I’ll find the balance. I can’t separate them and say I prefer one not the other.”
John – does it ever get boring moaning about Tony Khan every day?
Good to see the manager wants Mitro, but he will need help up front. I concur Bryan should be used more. He is very good coming forward but his defensive ability is questionable at times. Grimes coming tongue club looks to be no more than a rumour. Le Marchant leaving that would be good news. I can think of at least 4 more players i would like to see move on.
A big thank you to Mitro, joe Bryan, Cairney, Us fans love them because they give their all for the club and we support them in the same way. Big thanks to Betts, johansen, Rodak too sad to see some have left but hope Anguisa stays and young talented players get a chance and dont end up at spurs, liverpool at fulhams expense. sort it out Mr Khan.
Not sure of our central defenders! I think we need strengthening there.
Mitro has been proven to score goals. We need that Mitro back. 20+ goals this year, which he is more than capable of, and we’ll be ok.
Couple of the dead wood still need to go, Cairney being one of them, and the balance will be right.