Fulham manager Marco Silva has shared how his tactical approach targeting Marc Cucurella and Pedro Neto played a key role in his team’s stunning 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day.
Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca, suffered their first defeat in 13 matches across all competitions, leaving them four points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Despite an early goal by Cole Palmer—a brilliant solo effort in the 16th minute—Fulham mounted a dramatic comeback. Substitute Harry Wilson equalized in the 82nd minute, and Rodrigo Muniz sealed the win with a 94th-minute strike.
Speaking to Amazon Prime after the match, Silva revealed how Fulham identified Chelsea’s vulnerabilities, especially on their flanks. “We wanted to exploit Cucurella’s positioning.
Knowing he tends to drift inside, we utilized Adama Traoré to target the exposed left-hand side,” Silva explained. “That was part of the strategy, and it worked perfectly.”
Fulham’s bench also played a crucial role, continuing their league-leading trend of scoring with substitutes. “It’s not a coincidence,” Silva said. “Everyone in the squad knows their role, and that unity makes a difference.”
Silva also praised Antonee Robinson’s performance, highlighting his ability to neutralize Pedro Neto and contribute offensively.
“Robinson has been unbelievable this season, improving on and off the ball,” Silva added. “We knew Neto or Madueke would push forward aggressively, so we aimed to expose that matchup through Robinson’s quality.”
Fulham’s tactical precision and collective effort secured their first win at Stamford Bridge since 1979, leaving Chelsea frustrated while underscoring Silva’s brilliance as a strategist.