Fulham boss bats away praise as he reveals Cottagers fans were key part of pre-match talk before first win at Chelsea since 1979

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MARCO Silva revealed Cottagers supporters were mentioned in some of the pre-match speeches before Fulham came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. 

Cole Palmer gave Enzo Maresca’s Blues a sixteenth-minute lead but the visitors stunned the hosts when substitute Harry Wilson equalised with eight minutes left and another of player off the bench, Rodrigo Muniz, finished low past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez in the 95th minute.

Silva earned praise for his tactical set-up – regular left-back Antonee Robinson started on the left of midfield in a 4-5-1 formation with Adama Traore on the other wing – as Fulham pushed back Chelsea’s wingers Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho. 

But Silva preferred to divert praise away from himself after Fulham’s first win at Chelsea in 23 games, going back to 1979. 

“Football is about connections. Connections between fans, players and staff, means something really big. The most important thing is for the fans. It’s not about me at all,” Silva said. 

“Some of the speeches before the game were about the fans. It’s been a long time [not winning at] their neighbours. We deserved it. We controlled more of the game. We didn’t give them chances.

“We created big problems for them. Second half we had more bodies in the box and we created more problems.

“It will be one of the best Boxing Days for the fans in the last 50 years.

“In the second half we started to make better decisions. All the good actions of the game give us confidence.”

Silva added: “Harry started the last game. It’s so nice to see him. It’s not a coincidence we’re the team with the most goals coming from bench. The players know in some moments you can be decisive in 30 minutes. He’s a really crucial player for us. He didn’t start the season like he wanted but since he had more confidence and more time on the pitch, he can make the difference.”

Chelsea are now seven points behind leaders Liverpool after Arne Slot’s Reds came from behind to beat Leicester City 3-1 at Anfield. 

“It is a shame, especially in the way we lost the game in the last minute,” Maresca said. 

“It happened and now it is about recovering energy and ready to go again in a couple of days.

“We could have managed the game better, controlled better, but it is a game we can learn things.

“We have said many times we are a very, very young team but the most important thing is to see them growing and improving.

“Tomorrow we are in recovery and on Saturday we prepare for Monday game. It is important to recover the energy.

“I said many times no matter if we win games or don’t it is more the reality we can see inside that for many reason we are not ready [to challenge for the title]. The most important thing is to see the team improve.”

Fulham end 2024 against AFC Bournemouth at Craven Cottage on Sunday. 

The Blues travel to Ipswich Town on Monday. 

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