Fulham defender Calvin Bassey believes manager Marco Silva has the credentials and experience to succeed at a top club in the English Premier League.
Silva, 48, has had previous stints with Watford and Everton in the English top flight before moving to Craven Cottage in 2021.
The Portuguese guided the Cottagers to promotion by winning the EFL Championships, while he also led them to an 11th-placed finish in the league last season, narrowly missing out on an European spot.
Fulham also ended the season with a quarterfinal exit at the hands of eventual winners Crystal Palace in the English FA Cup.
“I think he’s overlooked,” Bassey exclusively told Sky Sports.
“I think this season he started to get his plaudits because of how well we’ve played and some of the teams we’ve been able to beat, but I think he definitely gets overlooked.”
Nigerian defender Bassey, who was named Fulham’s player of the season for his exceptional contributions in the last campaign, is confident Silva can excel at a top club if the opportunity comes by.
Read this: Bassey lauds impressive season with Fulham
“I think he’s, for me, one of the best managers in the Premier League, and no doubt, for sure, in a couple of years, he could be right at the top end of managing one of the best teams in the Premier League”, he continued.
“The best managers are always demanding and honest, and he’s always been honest to me. He’s always been clear of what he wants from me. He knows what he wants from the team, how he wants us to play.
He gives us confidence, he knows we’ll make mistakes, he knows it won’t always be perfect, but the one thing he wants that is non-negotiable is you give 100 per cent and there’s 100 per cent commitment. That’s what I respect about him”, the Super Eagles defender added.
Fulham begin their 2025-26 league campaign with a trip to Brighton and Hove Albion on August 16, hoping to improve on last season’s finish.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
