Fulham manager Marco Silva has admitted that the club’s late acquisition of Samuel Chukwueze delayed the Nigerian winger’s rise to form, revealing he would have been a nailed-on starter much earlier had he joined before the end of pre-season.
Silva: “I Wish We Had Him in Pre-Season”
Chukwueze completed his move from AC Milan on transfer-deadline day, missing Fulham’s entire preseason and beginning life at Craven Cottage several steps behind the rest of the squad.
As a result, Silva eased him into action with brief appearances from the bench, stressing that the late arrival slowed down the winger’s tactical and physical adaptation.
But once settled, the Super Eagles star began to flourish.
Chukwueze delivered a match-winning performance in Fulham’s 1–0 victory over Sunderland, followed by an eye-catching display at Tottenham, where he provided a key assist in the 2–1 win.
Reflecting on the winger’s progression, Silva said:
“Very happy with him; it was a matter of time. We need him at his best level, performance-wise and physically. He had a very good impact in the game. I’m very pleased for him.
I would have preferred to have had Chukwueze earlier, in preseason.”
Chukwueze and Iwobi Shine Despite 5–4 Thriller Loss to Man City
The Portuguese manager’s comments proved timely, as Chukwueze again showcased his growing influence during Fulham’s astonishing 5–4 defeat to Manchester City, a game that also saw Erling Haaland set a Premier League record by becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goals.
Despite trailing 5–1 after goals from Haaland, Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden, and a Sander Berge own goal, Fulham’s Nigerian duo of Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi nearly engineered a dramatic comeback.
Iwobi started the resurgence with a composed finish before Chukwueze took over the spotlight:
- 72nd minute: Capitalized on a Bernardo Silva mistake to smash home his first-ever Fulham goal.
- Moments later: Slotted in a clinical low drive to make it 5–4, sparking chaos and belief among the home crowd.
Fulham pushed hard for an equalizer in the dying moments, but Manchester City held on.
Still, for Fulham supporters and Nigeria’s AFCON selectors, Chukwueze’s explosive impact was the biggest takeaway of the night.
With his confidence soaring and his influence growing, Marco Silva’s only regret now appears to be that he didn’t get the Nigerian winger sooner.
