Silva addresses the question of his future - and his take on Fulham's season
- By Yann Tear at Craven Cottage
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
Marco Silva's summary of the season will encourage Fulham fans to believe that advances made this season can be continued next season - with the Portuguese at the helm.
Speculation has been in the air that Silva - who took over from Scott Parker at Craven Cottage four years ago - has been linked with Saudi clubs and is seen very much as a progressive coach who is in demand.
And even though the Whites ultimately faded out of the European qualification picture and missed out on a top half finish, the 47-year-old's stock remains high.
Silva said after the final day 2-0 defeat to Man City at the Cottage: "It was a great season. Hurts a bit I would say that we don't finish in the top half of the table. We were there the majority of the season. But for an historic club like Fulham to be able to break the record of points for the club speaks about us and our season.
"In the future if someone breaks this points record they are going to talk about this season and that is one of the most important parts of the season because it's something the club never achieved before."
Silva continued: "To be able in the final moments of the season to arrive in the decisive moments in the last few weeks competing for a possible European spot as well speaks about ourselves - and to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals is another thing.
"Of course I want more. I'm really ambitious. I'm never satisfied but that's just the way I deal with it. I have to say it was a great season for the club. Every time you are improving, you have to look at it as a successful one of progress and this season was a clear improvement and progress from the last one.
"The way we rebuilt the squad, the way we lost three or four key players and then rebuilt the squad. And in the best moments of the season, when we played at our best level, it was very difficult to play against us. I think we gave the fans some incredible performances, some incredible results too."
The Fulham boss added: "The aim has to be more consistent, but what we want all the other clubs want [too] and we are competing in the best and the most difficult competition in the world.
"We have to analyse why in the decisive moments we are not able to give that step forward. It's up to me to analyse and [help us] move forward from that. Next season, I've already said it to the players, that the aim has to be to beat the 54 points of this season. It's the first step."
On his own future, Silva also sounded a positive note.
"That question is always there [about my future]," he said. "because if the players perform well, normally they are going to speak about the manager and about the players. I think it's part of the business. It's not something that I can control and I don't lose any time to talk about it.
"I'm under contract with the club and I've been planning with the board for next season and the plan is there and we are working the next two months to prepare well for the next season as well as we can. Of course I expect to be here."
Speaking about Sunday's defeat, Silva said: "The aim was to end high after the win against Brentford in the derby. Of course we wanted to keep the momentum and to give the fans a different score, a different result in the last game of the season and thank them for their incredible support throughout the season. Overall we did create the chances to get a different result."
