Fulham coach Marco Silva was pleased with the application shown by his players in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup meeting with Leeds United.
Fulham fielded an entirely different side to the weekend but matched our Premier League opponents all the way until penalties.
“I made 11 changes to our starting XI and I saw our team match our opponent this evening,” Silva said. “I am really pleased, it shows the depth of our squad.
“It shows the competition I am always speaking to you that we have, and I can see every single day.
“If someone will not perform or go to sleep a little bit , they will be in trouble because the other one will be there.
“This is everything that I want, just in this way we can improve as a team and get stronger in the future.
“Of course, I am not happy with the result, like all of us, I think we deserved something more from the game.
“The result is what it is. I am proud of our players and what they did. Unfortunately, with the penalties they were more confident than us.
“I’m proud of what we did, our players. The way that we are working, the way we are doing, the way we will continue to keep working, the good moments will come for us.”
Despite the disappointment, Silva is convinced newcomer Muniz – a summer signing from Brazilian side Flamengo – and captain for the evening, Alfie Mawson, will be major contributors this season.
He said: “These are his (Muniz’s) first moments with our squad and the way he fights I will keep working with him – he is improving every single day. He will have a big future.
“I was happy with him (Mawson) and he is pushing very hard for the team. Tonight, he and (Michael) Hector showed a very good level which does not surprise me.
“Alfie was fighting very hard and is pushing for the starting 11. Everyone wants to play for this shirt.”
Source Geoff Pruce at Fulham FC/Julian Taylor at West London Sport