Marco Silva gets ready to go for bragging rights against **Chelsea**on their turf for the second time in eight months. But **Fulham**have a thin squad, and after the strain of midweek action, the schedule is a reminder of how the last month has been a "busy" and "tricky" time for the Portuguese manager.
‘They are still recovering’
There were no shocks in midweek for the Cottagers in the Carabao Cup. An own goal and a finish from Raul Jimenez put them two goals to the good against Bristol City and calmed all the nerves.
“We know it’s a competition that normally can have surprises. It’s something you try to avoid as much as you can, respect the opponent. We had good examples in the past. In this competition, Rotation or not, it’s up to us to keep the same type of approach and it speaks about the players as well.”
It is onto the third round in the domestic cup against Cambridge United, with business handled well.
“Professional and focused in the way we approach things. It was a professional performance, job done. That’s the most important thing. That is what we expected but we have to prove it in the match.”
But there is less preparatory time for the team ahead of the West London derby as the Blues have not been in action since a 5-1 rout of West Ham last Friday. On top of that, three players are doubts.
*“Let’s see with Harry Wilson. Because the players played on Wednesday evening, they are still recovering with some knocks. Nothing serious apart from **Timothy Castagne*a little bit with some knocks from the game. Issa Diop too, but I really believe that both are going to be available.”.
‘You prefer to have a week’
**Fulham**finished last term with 54 points, a club record in the Premier League era. The target would have been building on that momentum, but the transfer window has been dormant. Only Benjamin Lecomte has come through the door, a £500,000 second-choice shot stopper from Montpellier.
“It’s always a tricky period. It’s a busy period because you have to do a lot of work in terms of the market. Also players can leave, players can come. Me and my staff try to be as focused as you can control with the sessions and the matches but we have many things to speak about and prepare.”
Yet, the side have shown their steel. Rodrigo Muniz pulled out an equaliser at the death to earn a point at the Amex Stadium off the bench. Then, Emile Smith Rowe repeated the trick last week as **Fulham**avoided defeat at Craven Cottage against the Red Devils for the first time in 15 years.
*“Tough start in terms of schedule. **Premier Leagu**e is always difficult, but if you look at out schedule, the beginning it is difficult to go to Brighton and first home game against **Man United**after good home game against Arsenal. Now, we have a big game again before the international break.”*
The manager made clear he will not allow midweek fatigue to foil any attempt at winning tomorrow.
*“When you have these types of games, you prefer to have a week to prepare. It was not the case for us, **Chelsea*had that chance to prepare. But we always want to win games, collect maximum points.”