Marco Silva, Fulham’s head coach, has accepted responsibility for leaving out Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze and other key players in the club’s defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup.
Fulham suffered a narrow 0–1 home defeat to Southampton on Sunday, a result that ended their campaign in the competition.
Following the match, Silva admitted that his decision to rotate the squad attracted criticism but insisted that the players who came in were capable of competing at the highest level.
“This one is more than a defeat. If it’s because of the changes then fine, I get it,” Silva said.
The Fulham boss also defended the quality of the players left out of the starting lineup, including Chukwueze.
“Ryan Sessegnon and Timothy Castagne have played this season against top Premier League sides. Oscar Bobb and Samuel Chukwueze are at the level,” he added.
Silva further explained that the large number of changes was not unusual given that many of the players involved have featured regularly during the season.
“Nine changes are nine changes, but I look at it in a different way because all these players have been starting games for us against Premier League sides, and most of them have played 10 or 15 games so far this season,” he said.
The defeat marks a disappointing exit from the FA Cup for Fulham as they now turn their focus back to their Premier League campaign.
