Fulham coach Marco Silva is ready for a fresh challenge when Brighton visit Craven Cottage on Saturday after Fulham showed “a great reaction” against Manchester United last time out.
“We are in a good moment, we are confident after that great reaction from us after the defeat against Villa,” he explained. “It was a great reaction from us as a team.
“And now we are going to be back at the Cottage against a very good side, against a team that is not easy to play against.
“They like to take the ball from the opposition side, they have the capacity to have long moments with the possession, they have the capacity to take some energy from you, because they hold the ball really well.
“They have a certain way to play, and of course it's a game that is going to demand from ourselves the right timings to press, we have to be aggressive in some moments, other moments we have to be really in a good organisation as well.
“This is going to be a great challenge for us at home, with our fans behind us. We feel really well, we are stronger in this moment, and of course after a good performance you want to continue in this way.
“Just the three points are in our mind, but huge respect with Brighton – the way they play, the capacity they have, the individual players that they have as well. Of course, it's going to be a tough game for us.”
Roberto De Zerbi took over at Brighton back in September 2022 and immediately led them to Europa League qualification, with a trip to AS Roma in the knockouts to look forward to next week.
Asked by a journalist what he makes of the job De Zerbi has done on the south coast, Silva replied: “A great, great job. He made a huge impact straightaway when he came in.
“Okay, they were in a good moment when they had that change when Graham Potter left the club. They were in a very good position, but we have to be fair with Roberto – he made a huge impact in that club.
“The football players, the way they play, clear idea of how to play, a really brave idea, too. And they have that capacity, as I said, of having long moments with possession, some moments that take some energy from the opposition side.
“But, in answer to you about his job, he's been great.”