‘Hopefully they can continue to back him’ – Ex-Fulham defender Senderos assesses boss Marco Silva ahead of Palace FA Cup clash

Ex-Fulham defender Philippe Senderos believes that the stability they have enjoyed under Marco Silva has given them a shift towards being genuine candidates for silverware.

The west Londoners host Crystal Palace in the FA Cup quarter-finals tomorrow, writes Edmund Brack.

Silva has been head coach at Fulham since the summer of 2021 and guided them back to the Premier League in his first season in charge.

The Whites are in their third consecutive campaign in the top-flight and are four points off the Champions League places.

Fulham reached the EFL Cup semi-final last season, only narrowly losing over two legs to eventual winners Liverpool.

“Marco Silva has been fantastic,” Senderos told the South London Press. “He has had stability, which is rare at the top level. He has implemented his ideas.

“It’s very important that when you have a club that backs their manager, they know where they stand and don’t have unrealistic expectations of what they should be doing. Silva has managed this very well.”

The Portuguese boss has been linked with a move to Tottenham if they sack Ange Postecoglou.

“We know the reality of the game,” said Senderos. “Players, as well as managers, want to go as high as possible. We never know what might happen in the summer, but he is still under contract.

“Fulham have a great manager and staff on their hands. Hopefully they can continue to back him and make sure that they keep this stability.”

Senderos has warned defenders Calvin Bassey and Joachim Andersen they need to be ready for a major battle with Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The striker caused former Palace defender Andersen to score an own goal when the two clubs met last month at Craven Cottage as Oliver Glasner’s side picked up a 2-0 victory.

Frenchman Mateta will be available for selection, missing just one Premier League match after suffering a severe laceration to his ear in the previous round of the cup against Millwall.

“It’s a big boost for Palace,” said Senderos. “He is massive for them. He is a great player. He is big and surprisingly good on the ball with good link-up play.

“He is very powerful and a great weapon to have on your team. The centre-backs will have a tough game against him. They will have to battle, because he enjoys the playing battle as well the physical battle.

Palace have not lost in their last six visits to Craven Cottage.

The only other FA Cup ties between the clubs took place in the 1906-07 season.

“It could be a type of revenge for Fulham after the defeat in the league, but it’s also a one-off because it gives you the chance to go to a semi-final.

“It would be fantastic for Fulham.”

Palace sold Andersen last summer in a deal worth up to £30million with the Danish defender on a six-figure weekly salary.

The centre-back played 113 times for Palace, who signed Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix as his replacement.

Andersen has featured 20 times in the league this season.

“He is an important player in the backline at Fulham,” said Senderos. “They realised this when they brought him back. He has Premier League experience. He is one of those players who performs well consistently.

“You need those types of performers in your squad. He is a leader. The fact that Calvin Bassey has Andersen next to him has really helped him settle.

“I’ve seen Bassey getting better and better. He has clear physical attributes which make him ready for the top level, but he still had to adapt to the league and make decisions in split seconds.

“You need a calm head next to you and Andersen has provided that.”

Swiss international Senderos joined Fulham in 2010 after leaving Arsenal. He played 68 times before a switch to Valencia four years later.

“I hope Fulham win because of my history there,” he said, when asked to pick a winner in Saturday’s clash.

“The way the club has been run in the last couple of years, I really believe there has been a shift and stability.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD