Fulham leader Marco Silva hopes to guide Cottagers on what would be a historical triumph of the FA Cup in 2025.
The Western London Club is facing Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, with the opportunity to move on to the quarter -finals at stake.
The story would suggest that Fulham is the underdogs against the Red Devils, but the roles were reversed this season with United Smanking at the lower half of the table, while Silva’s lateral impulse for a Champions League.
And while it will be difficult for them to slip at the top four, taking into account how competitive the upper half is in 2024-25, there is always the chance to win silverly instead.
Silva has made it very clear that Fulham is taking the FA Cup with full serious and that their focus is to reach the next round.
Speaking in front of the trip to Manchester, he said: “We love this competition. We want to be really serious about it. Our players were always serious in their approach because they respect and love this competition.
“Our ambition in this competition is really great and we want to compete to be in the next round. It’s good when I feel that this ambition and passion go through the whole team.”
The Ninja footballer. 🥷
Alex Iwobi is a secret player five-a-side! 👀
🎧 https://t.co/0b7Do7ku7t pic.twitter.com/l3tqbhmssy
– Fulham Football Club (@fulhamfc) 27 February 2025
Silva will be based on his key players in Old Trafford, including Alex Iwobi, who was a revelation to Craven Cottage since he participated by Everton.
And the Portuguese boss admitted that he was bothered by hearing that international Nigeria was playing football five with his friends during the week.
He added: “He knows that he should not, but Alex is Alex is as honest as possible during a podcast. I would rather enjoy his friends in a different way rather than little games with his friends.
“There are many things to do in a different way, but he is a great guy. He is a footballer who lives his life in a slightly different way, but sometimes I want to keep his focus where he must protect him as much as I can, because in the end the most important thing for him is his job for Fulham Football.”
If Fulham is going to beat United on his own stadium, Silva will need iWobi to do so through the rest of the week without getting injured, with his full focus on the domestic cup competition.
