Fulham’s Marco Silva: Kevin’s Adaptation Will Take Time

Fulham manager Marco Silva emphasized that integrating the club’s record signing, Kevin, into the team will be a gradual process. The 22-year-old made his full debut during a lackluster 1-0 victory against Cambridge in the Carabao Cup, where the home side advanced to the fourth round thanks to a goal from Emile Smith Rowe in the second half.

The match, held at a half-full Craven Cottage, showcased a Fulham team that made 11 changes from their last outing. They struggled to find rhythm, with their new Brazilian winger occasionally displaying flashes of skill, including clever touches and incisive runs. However, concerns arose when Kevin was substituted late in the game, appearing to suffer a shoulder injury, just days ahead of their match against Aston Villa on September 30.

“Let’s see what’s going to happen,” Silva remarked regarding Kevin’s injury. “He kept feeling the pain there. Kevin is in a process. He arrived 23 days ago. The first 10 days, he was training with just 11 players here during the international break. You can imagine how long it will take.”

Silva highlighted Kevin’s unique attributes, stating that he is “very talented” but needs time to acclimate to his new teammates and the style of play in England. “Football is different here compared to other countries,” he explained. “He knows he has strong competition in the wide areas of the pitch. The more minutes he gets, the more he will adapt.”

Fulham’s victory, while ultimately secure, was far from convincing. Smith Rowe’s goal came in the 66th minute, allowing Fulham to avoid a potential upset against the League Two side. Until that point, the match had been characterized by missed opportunities and a lack of offensive creativity. Fulham’s only notable moment in the first half came from Raul Jimenez, whose back-heeled volley narrowly missed the target.

Cambridge’s goalkeeper, Jake Eastwood, delivered a commendable performance, denying several attempts from Fulham, including two from Harrison Reed. The visitors could have taken the lead before halftime had it not been for a deflected shot from Shayne Lavery, which skimmed just past the post.

Following the match, Silva criticized his team’s pace and aggression. “Everything was too slow in the first half,” he said. “We had 80 percent possession, but if you’re not aggressive enough on the ball, you can have 90 percent possession and still not create anything. We had only one good chance in the first half. Clearly, it was not our most inspirational night for our creative players.”

In contrast, Cambridge manager Neil Harris praised his team’s resilience and discipline. “In the first half, our shape and desire to defend was superb,” he noted. “We had the best opportunity from Shayne Lavery. We knew Fulham would move the ball quicker in the second half. Our goalkeeper made some great saves, and we stood strong. Ultimately, they were going to wear us down, and they did.”

As Fulham prepares for their upcoming match against Aston Villa, the focus will be on how quickly Kevin can adapt and contribute to a team that is still finding its footing this season.