Tonight, the fires were lit in the 16th round of the English Premier League as Fulham drew 2-2 with Liverpool away from home. After the match, Fulham leader Marco Silva gave his insight into the ups and downs of the game in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Silva's words were a mixture of relief and regret: "It's a feeling like a cup of bitter coffee, with a strong start and a bitter aftertaste. The way we started the game was impeccable, and even though the other team was down a player, we still took advantage of the situation. The left side of the attack was like a silk thread, and the play of Iwobi and Robinson was like the finishing touch."
But Silva's brow was furrowed as he continued, "However, the turnaround in the second half was like a bolt from the blue. Conceding twice, both at sensitive moments of the game, we had to be more resilient in confrontations and key duels. The emotions on the pitch were a roller coaster and we, as players and coaches, must remain calm and not let them sway our decision making."
Nonetheless, Silva spoke highly of his team's overall performance: "We showed great competitiveness in a match where we were outnumbered. Even though we were outnumbered many times in the second half, there is still room for improvement. Liverpool, a strong team, played equally well tonight."
Speaking about the controversial penalty, Silva didn't want to dwell too much on it: "I'm not at liberty to go into the details, but the frustration of that is really overwhelming. Tate was clearly pulled down when he lost the ball for the first time and it was clearly a foul. The Premier League rivalry is always challenging and I take issue with some of the calls, but the foul on the red card occasion really deserved a red card."
Concluding his remarks, Silva said firmly: "Even if the details weren't perfect, the intensity of the whole game was evident. The players reacted quickly and strongly. We could have created more chances, but the beauty of soccer is its unpredictability. I believe in my team and we will definitely give our best and be ready for the next game."
