Marco Silva climbed out of the **Championship**at the first attempt, but he is not underestimating a "difficult" opponent from the English second tier. **Fulham**face Bristol City in the Carabao Cup, and there is no room for complacency against a club whose hopes of giant-killing are a "normal ambition."
‘We are serious about it’
Cup competitions can be a distraction for some sides that wish to focus on targets in the league. On the other hand, Silva is not satisfied if he does not see a dedicated display from his group in the cup.
“This one for us is very important. The last three seasons, we didn't hide ourselves, saying it's just another competition. It’s very important, like the FA Cup is too, and we look really seriously for it.”
He led the Cottagers to the semifinal of this tournament in 2024 when they bowed out to **Liverpool**3-2 on aggregate. It was the first time the club have come that close to glory and he wants to do it again.
“We are serious about it. I think we have been showing we have been knocking on the door to arrival in the final stages of both competitions. We already achieved the semi-finals once in the last three seasons. When you already achieved the semis, the next step for us is trying to go to the final.”
However, he is not letting himself get carried away with aspirations, planning to go game by game.
“But we have to go step by step, to share the ambition with our players and with our fans as well. Let's do the job that we have to do, game by game, and tomorrow is going to be a tough one.”
Professional pride he has seen from the players in these contexts has impressed him in recent years.
“We have to take the responsibility of the game, take it very seriously. One thing that pleased me more in last few seasons in these competitions, is how we have been serious always with our approach.”
He expects that standard to stay high, irrespective of how much he can rotate a squad light on depth.
“It doesn't matter if you repeat the same XI, or if you change players, doesn't matter the number that you are going to rotate or not, but the way we have been approaching these competitions is serious.”
‘We want to do our maximum’
Giant killings are a significant part of the sporting culture in English football. The Robins might be a competitive club in the second tier, but they would be no less proud to defeat their hosts tomorrow.
“Difficult. Championship sides are always difficult to play against in this type of competition. They play against a Premier League side, they want to make some type of story in these competitions.”
Silva steered the side back into the top flight in his first season, so he has battled before with the type of outfits that see the financial and emotional gain through a long run in one of the cup competitions.
*“They know if they beat a Premier League side, they are always going to be in the spotlight. I think it’s a normal ambition for any club when you are in lower divisions than the Premier League.”*
Bristol have not lost any of their four fixtures this season, beating **MK Dons**in the first round of the Carabao Cup and picking up five points from their first three outings in the Championship. Silva is sure that they will put their best foot forward in this fixture, and what matters most to him is a result.
“The most important for us is to be in the next round. We want to do our maximum. Massive respect, of course, for Bristol, they started well the season. They have quality, we are aware of their quality, the way they play, everything that they can put on the pitch, and the problems they can create for us.”