Marco Silva wishes to replicate ‘incredible’ environment at Craven Cottage against London rivals

The Fulham head coach sees the supporters as a key factor on derby day…

Marco Silvashared his thoughts about the West London rivalry between Fulham and Chelsea.

The Blues beat his men 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in controversial circumstances at the end of August, having also defeated them 2-1 at Craven Cottage with a last gasp winner from Pedro Neto. The team’s performances have not been rewarded in previous derbies: will this occasion be different?

“We need [the fans], we need their help. They know, they know it’s important, they understand that.

“We are going to play at home, and we need them behind us.

“We felt during some moments of the Liverpool game, more second half that was more difficult for us, more after that goal when they equalised, the fans were behind the team. They pushed us in the last minutes of the game when we were trying to win the game, before the 2-1, they pushed us.

“The environment was incredible, and you know that in the next one [against Chelsea] it’s going to be slightly different because it’s a special game, and from the first whistle until the last they are going to be completely behind ourselves.

“We need them, we need them in moments of more fatigue or something like that. We need them to push and to be that extra player that is going to be necessary for us to try to win the game.”

“We look for last season, how we won away, how we lost at home, both games with late goals. It really hurt ourselves, our fans, this football club, the way we were not able to win the game at Stamford Bridge [this season].

“The way the team performed almost perfectly first half, in a really tough game against a top, top side, the way the team performed, and everything that happened in that game, really hurt this football club.

“It’s another opportunity for us to enjoy, to embrace a big challenge with our fans to play a derby like a derby should be played. Simple as that. It’s a new game, new story. I don’t want anyone to think about the past, we have to look for the future, and what’s going to be most important is the next one.”