Golden-boy Roy shines for Silva
MARCO SILVA is full of admiration for legendary Fulham boss Roy Hodgson — but is determined to create his own glorious era at Craven Cottage.
The west Londoners are enjoying their best run among the English elite since those heady days under Hodgson when they memorably reached the 2010 UEFA Cup final.
Silva (below) is well aware of the legacy left by the former England manager, courtesy of amazing nights under the lights in Europe, including beating Juventus in a last-16 thriller.
Now, with his class of 2023 riding high in the top half of the table and preparing for an FA Cup quarter-final trip to Manchester United today, some pundits are comparing Silva to Hodgson.
Ex-fulham skipper Steve Sidwell recently hailed the current atmosphere as being as good as anything witnessed in the up-and-down decade that has followed Hodgson’s reign.
Portuguese coach Silva is flattered. Not only because of Hodgson’s marvellous history, but because it proves he is making his own positive mark in SW6.
The Craven Cottage chief said: “It’s a really important moment, I don’t have doubts. Of course, I know the story and the good moments.
“It’s important for me to know this. Roy is a person that I respect — not just now that I’m in Fulham, but even when I played against him before. But I feel, as well, from last season, the connection you can create inside is something myself and my staff always demand from everyone.
“This is important to me. To work in a good environment, to make everyone go in the same direction, to make everyone feel important — yet, at the same time, that there’s always demands on them.
“From the boys in the academy up, they all have to feel part of the work to achieve something.
“I’m pleased to listen to the feedback that comes from players from the past speaking to someone here now. “It’s something I’ve been working for, changing things on and off the pitch. So I’m proud of this situation.
“I want us to be ambitious, and with the right environment to demand that everyone wants even more.” A last-eight tie at Old Trafford is a tricky test for Silva’s troops, especially on the back of successive league defeats.
And he refused to confirm whether regular goalkeeper Bernd Leno will make his Fulham cup debut ahead of Slovakian Marek Rodak.
The former Everton and Watford manager added: “Marek’s been playing from the first FA Cup game and he did the same in the Carabao Cup.
“Let’s see what I decide is the best XI... not just in that position.
“We really wanted a home draw but to get to Wembley you have to face the best.”