Marco Silva urges Fulham transfer ambition after difficult run: 'We cannot stand still'
Marco Silva has urged Fulham not to “stand still” after their 4-0 loss to title-chasing Manchester City.
Fulham managed just one shot all afternoon at a sunny Craven Cottage, and had only 35 per cent possession against a dominant City side, who are now just two wins away from becoming the first-ever team to win four consecutive Premier League titles.
Following the loss, Fulham now cannot hope to finish in the top half of the table, as they did last year.
Although this season has had bright moments, including a run to their first-ever League Cup semi-final, it has been a poor end to the campaign for Fulham, with the Cottagers slumping to just one win from their last eight Premier League matches.
Speaking post-match on Saturday, Silva said: “Two great seasons, but we cannot stand still.
“We have to move on, if you want to be more competitive, to be always better as a team.
“On and off the pitch, we have to do things different. We have to be more ambitious as well, in the market for example, to get the best deals we can for the club.”
When questioned on whether his ambitions will be matched in the upcoming summer transfer window, Silva added: “We are going to talk for sure with the board, to take important decisions for the football club.
“Of course it is not easy when you have to sell your leading goalscorer [Aleksandar Mitrovic] like we did.”
Manchester City have won seven Premier League matches in a row now, and despite Fulham’s strong home form this season, including wins over Arsenal and Tottenham, they offered almost no threat at all to the visitors’ defence.
"First half was a little quiet from us, not that many chances,” Silva said.
"It was really difficult. The way we planned the game, the first goal made a huge impact.”
Fulham travel to relegation-battling Luton in their final game of the season. A win could see the west Londoners finish in 12th place.
