Marco Silva oversaw another close clash against Man United, who failed to win at Craven Cottage for the first time in 15 years. The pressure is building on his compatriot Ruben Amorim, whose system saw the upper hand in the opening stages before **Fulham**found answers to their questions.
‘We knew how they defend’
There was no opening day buzz at Old Trafford, but the Red Devils still started fast. **Mason Mount**got on the swivel to set up Matheus Cunha for a strike, and then he plucked a long ball from Altay Bayindir out of the air for a second shot, illustrating some of the issues for the hosts in their defence.
“Happy apart from the first 20 minutes, where Man United started better than us. We have to be fair. We had some problems defending behind. They more direct game created some problems for us. We lost most of the individual duels in that first 20 minutes of the game and they started better than us.”
They eventually found their rhythm and explored ways to make the most of United's 5-2-3 formation.
“We knew how they defend and we knew that they like to squeeze from the back five and if you don't give bodies for them to squeeze from the back five, then you can create superiorities in the middle.
Flagging fitness meant pressing was much poorer from **Man United**last term. **Ruben Amorim**has been whipping his men into much leaner condition, but they had to concede the initiative over time.
“We know that Man United play with the two midfielders. We try to overload with our three plus Alex. The players they understood very well, started to found that Alex, Josh King or Sasa Lukic much better. I think we start to settle well our game and the players understood most of the moments.”
**Calvin Bassey**brought down **Mason Mount**from a corner, and Bruno Fernandes fired from twelve yards over the target. But by the end of the half, there was little else for **Fulham**to be worried about.
*“We start to settle more our game and not creating many chances but much more in control much more commanding the game with the ball like we like to do it and from that moment no more big moments from Man United. We had one good shot from Alex Iwobi, a great save in a after a second ball in the corner, but nothing more after that moment. The game was very balanced.”*
‘We kept the plan’
Football is not a fair sport. **Fulham**were fighting on an even keel, but Leny Yoro put two hands in the back of Basse, and he steered a corner kick delivery from Bryan Mbeumo into the back of the net. The heads might have dropped, but Silva's side showed the resilience to stick to their game plan.
“Second half, we started very well. Probably our best moment in the game, they scored the goal. Our reaction was top level in my opinion. They kept composure, balance, they didn't lose what is important in this moment. We kept the plan as well.
The hosts had to rely on the reserves for a big moment. Against Brighton, Rodrigo Muniz capitalised on a lapse of focus at the back post to level the score in injury time. This duel was less dramatic with an even more immediate impact from Emile Smith Rowe two minutes after he touched the grass.
“Players came in, they made a massive impact in the game and we were better after the 1-0 than them. All the dangerous moments that they had they come from set pieces nothing more. We control well the game with the ball, we don't let them to press ourselves. We found always the midfielders and the spare player in midfield. We scored a great goal with more dangerous moment around their box.”
It is the second draw of the season after the Cottagers came back in injury time on the south coast. Again, the **Fulham**boss believes his men deserved a draw after restoring balance to the battle.
“I think it is a fair result um related with the with the things of course if you look for the way they scored the goal I have to say no but okay it's something that I cannot control and I'm talking more performance-wise the way we are in control the way we reacted the way we finished the game.”
‘He’s a great athlete’
VAR has been a sticky subject for many Premier League managers, and Silva is no exception. **Bruno Fernandes**fired over the bar after officials deemed **Calvin Bassey**had hauled down **Mason Mount**in the box, but did nothing to chalk off a header for Leny Yoro when he put his hands on the defender.
“Difficult to say something. Millions across the world saw what's happened this afternoon in terms of the VAR decisions. I will not say nothing more I don't have the competencies to explain things that is impossible to explain. I think they were unbelievable well they did unbelievable.”
Bassey was back in central defence after filling in as a left back against Brighton, and the return of two teammates was a much more cheerful talking point for the **Fulham**boss in his press conference.
Antonee Robinson recorded ten assists last term, the most for any player in the history of the club in the Premier League. The fullback underwent knee surgery in the offseason, and he is steadily making his way back to full fitness to fly up and down the flank for **Fulham**over the next nine months.
“That's what you demand from him. We all know is he's a great athlete. Nothing to talk about it. Of course, he needs more minutes. He needs to be to have the feeling to be on the pitch again because he needs confidence to play at his best level. He's unbelievably important for us as a football player.”
He only featured for half an hour as Ryan Sessegnon started in the position. The Englishman was also absent on the opening matchday because of a niggle in his hamstring from a preseason fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt. Silva is satisfied to see his two ideal options fighting for minutes once more.
“It's a great fight always between both left backs and nice to see Robinson back again: the way he has capacity to run and forward back throughout the 90 95 minutes and step by step he's going to arrive.”