Ryan Sessegnon says Fulham’s players and fans should ‘stick together’ and insisted that Marco Silva’s side ‘always do bounce back’ after two disappointing defeats in the space of four days.
The Whites went out of the FA Cup on Saturday having been crushed by Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage and were beaten 2-1 at Arsenal last time. Sessegnon, introduced as a second half substitute, made Fulham’s goal for Rodrigo Muniz and told FFCTV that the players felt they should left N5 with a share of the spoils:
We’re disappointed to come away with nothing. We came here trying to win the game. At times it was tight, especially in the first half. The second half was a little bit better. Towards the end, we were pushing to get that equaliser and we almost did. We missed a chance with Rodrigo just before that – if that goes in and obviously the goal he scored, we come away with a point.
With the options we have coming off the bench, we always have attacking threat towards the end. Speaking for myself, I always want to come and try to bring energy and an attacking threat whenever I come on. I feel like [playing on the right wing] it is something that I do a little bit in training – especially in attacking scenarios. First time round [in his previous spell with Fulham], I did it a few times. I’m getting more and more comfortable wherever I am on the pitch and I try to adapt wherever I can.”
Sessegnon revealed that Silva stressed the need for his first team squad to stay together after an agonising London derby defeat with European qualification still not of the question.
“I think that’s the message from the gaffer. We’re disappointed with tonight, but we’ve got some tough games coming up, we’ve got to stick together. There’s a lot to play for and in football anything can happen. We’ve got to stick together and always do bounce back.”
The Roehampton boy also beamed when asked about what it meant to captain his boyhood club for the very first time – against Palace on Saturday.
“I didn’t know too much about it when it happened. Obviously Jedi handed to me when he came off and I came on. It was a very nice moment to wear the armband for the first time.”
As soon as I saw the team Silva started with I knew we would lose how the hell does he keep picking Smith Roe it’s unbelievable, Sess was our best player once again and he should have been on from the start even Periara is better than ESR ,and why was Bassey not playing he is our best defender and also creates attacking threat, Castagne is out of his depth and we have to find another right back .
John B says it all but when will it sink into Marco’s head?
Yes, Sess deserves a start and it should be Robinson he replaces. His form has really dipped lately and where was he when Saka stood unmarked on the back post to head in unchallenged. He needs a rest. Good to see how Awobi and Pereira responded to being dropped. I thought ESR showed much more effort and wanted to be involved. Castagne was hoplessly outplayed by Martinelli. I can’t understand why Diop couldn’t have doubled up on him as we were playing with 3 centre backs.
Anyway why all the doom and gloom, we’ve been beaten by the 2nd best team in the country by an odd goal. It could have been so different if Muniz had scored when it was harder to miss.
Now looking forward with optimism to playing the top team.
COYW
It really says something when a player who only played for 13 minutes wins the Man of the Match award, voted for by Fulham fans.
Shame on the other players!