Fulham boss Marco Silva says Bristol City will provide a stern test as his side prepare for their Carabao Cup tie, stressing there is no room for complacency against a Championship club chasing a potential upset.
This one for us is very important. In the last three seasons we didn’t hide that it isn’t just another competition. It’s very important, like the FA Cup, and we take it seriously, Silva said.
He reflected on Fulham’s recent cup history, recalling their run to the Carabao Cup semi-finals in 2024, where they narrowly fell to Liverpool 3-2 on aggregate. That experience, he suggested, has helped set a standard for continuing to push in knockout football. “We have been knocking on the door to arrive in the final stages of both competitions. We already reached the semis in the last three seasons, and the next step for us is going to the final,” he said, while insisting the approach must remain grounded.
Silva stressed that his side will not get carried away with hypotheticals. “We have to go step by step, to share the ambition with our players and with our fans as well. Let’s do the job we have to do, game by game, and tomorrow will be tough.”
The manager also praised the professional pride he’s seen from his players in cup ties, noting that the team’s mentality underpins their performance, whether they line up the same XI or rotate to manage squad depth. “It doesn’t matter if you repeat the same XI or change players; the way we approach these competitions must stay serious. We want to do our maximum.”
Bristol City, for their part, will be keen to make a statement of their own. Silva described them as a difficult challenge for any Premier League side given their Championship grind and hunger to create a cup story. “Difficult. Championship sides are always difficult to play against in this type of competition. They want to make some type of story,” he said.
Silva, who led Fulham back to the Premier League in his first season in charge, knows how a good cup run can shape perception and spotlight for a club outside the top flight. He tempered expectations with realism, noting that a win would advance Fulham’s aims while paying respect to Bristol’s start to the season.
Bristol City arrive in good form themselves, undefeated in four fixtures this season, after beating MK Dons in the Carabao Cup’s first round and collecting five points from their opening three Championship matches. Silva acknowledged their quality and the problems they can present, while stressing the core objective remains the same: reach the next round.
The match offers Fulham a chance to bolster momentum and test depth, with Silva intent on balancing serious preparation with the flexibility to rotate as needed. Genuine optimism surrounds a potential cup run, built on a foundation of disciplined application and a clear step-by-step plan.
Additional context: The Carabao Cup provides a stage where Fulham’s seriousness in knockout football could translate into renewed confidence and momentum as they press toward league targets, while Bristol City seek to capitalize on a growing season to disrupt higher-tier opponents. The tie is a reminder that cup football in England often rewards preparation, resilience, and sharp game-by-game focus.