Following the match between the two clubs in the League Cup semifinal, the Fulham manager responded.
Marco Silva acknowledges that his Fulham team faced heartache in the League Cup and that Liverpool’s superior poise proved to be the difference.
The Londoners lost 3-2 on aggregate after being beaten to a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage in their semi-final second leg on Wednesday night, despite a late equaliser from Issa Diop.
The Reds will play Chelsea at Wembley next month in a record-tying 14th League Cup final. Fulham had the lead in the first game at Anfield a week ago but lost 2-1.
Silva continued, saying, “Overall, in the two legs, we had that period of time in the second half when we were winning 1-0 and had two or three excellent counterattacks that we could have scored from had we made better decisions.”
“Those are significant times. Those moments matter when you play against a squad that is so dependable in every competition they participate in—they are the best in the league for a reason. They seemed so much calmer than we were. It was just another game to them. Playing in a semi-final was something new for the majority of our players.
“Performance-wise, the game wasn’t our best performance overall, but with the desire, attitude, and commitment from our players, they gave it everything they had from the first to the very end,” Silva continued. Up to the very last minute, the semi-final was left open.
“We had a rough 30 minutes at first. We were not as composed and composed as Liverpool; we gave up too many balls while trying to launch an assault, and we were unable to maintain possession as usual.
“We had a great opportunity at the corner before they scored, which was something we planned, and while our movement in the area was good, we should have hit the goal. With that goal, the game would have been different, and Liverpool would have scored their first goal when they went up front. We ought to do a better job defending it. That night, it was more difficult.
“They started the second half stronger than we did, but we needed the goal, and the crowd rallied behind us. The game became more emotional after we scored the goal. We weren’t as good as we could have been, and Liverpool is through to the championship game.
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