Marco Silva said extending his contract with Fulham was ‘a simple decision’ because he feels so at home at Craven Cottage.
The Fulham head coach committed his future to the Cottagers by signing a new three-year deal on Tuesday and confirmed during this afternoon’s press conference that he had received assurances that considering backing from chairman Shahid Khan would follow.
Silva said:
“It was the decision that myself and the club were happy to take. It was something we had been talking about for long time. It probably could have happened earlier, to be honest. It was a decision that was a simple one and an easy one.
The 46 year-old stressed how delighted he was to have established such a strong rapport with the Fulham fans.
Their support has been really important, not just for me, for the players, in the last two years and what we have achieved. It’s really good to have the feeling that the fans are happy with everything we have been doing at this football club. I feel at home at all my clubs but it’s true I’m feeling at home, I feel welcome. I have stayed here longer [than any other club so far]. We are ambitious people. I want more for this football club and for my career as well. The longer you are in a club you get more connections, stronger relations. We feel good in this club. We are ambitious people. I want more for this club, for my career, with ambitious and demanding high we can achieve it.”
Silva is targeting further improvement following a return to the top flight in his season in SW6 – and a mid-table finish last term.
“On the pitch, it’s clear what I want to see. To see our team improve game by game. To make them better players, and us as a collective. We’re not talking about [our league] position. We know what we did last season and that it’s difficult to improve. But we are ambitious. The main thing for us is to get the recognition as a Premier League club. To sustain this club as a Premier League club. From that moment, to improve every season. We will work hard on and off the pitch to keeping improving many things.
It’s going to be hard work to get this club recognition. Everyone recognises this club as a Premier League club but after that we have to take the step and achieve different things. Off the pitch we have to improve and keep improving many things to keep meeting everything the Premier League demands to you.”
