Marco Silva insisted that his Fulham team were not discounting the possibility of clinching a European place in the Premier League following their win away at Sunderland.
Silva watched on as the Cottagers ran out 3-1 victors at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, with Raul Jimenez’s quickfire second-half double doing the damage for Fulham.
After a low-key opening period, the visitors took the lead in the 54th minute through Jimenez, with the Mexican doubling his and his team’s tally just seven minutes later.
The Fulham striker increased Fulham’s lead from the penalty spot, but Sunderland reduced the deficit with a spot-kick of their own that was tucked away by Enzo Le Fee.
However, the win was sealed five minutes from time by Alex Iwobi, moving Fulham up to 10th in the table while also ending a run of three straight Premier League defeats.
And speaking after leading Fulham to their first Premier League double over Sunderland since the 2002-03 season under Jean Tigana, Silva did not downplay the magnitude of the Cottagers’ 11th win of the season.
“We want to push higher and higher. It was a key game for us,” Silva told Match of the Day. “We are going to see.
“March is a big month for us with five games, four of them at home. We will try to perform at our best level.
“It was an important win, a big win for us. Well deserved as well. We showed quality, maturity, composure, organisation and braveness.
“Those are the important moments you have to step up, and we did it.”
Proper Fulham. pic.twitter.com/I7eD6msEHt
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 22, 2026
Following Fulham’s poor recent run in the top-flight, Silva’s position was thrown into question, with the 48-year-old out of contract at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
“No. Nothing,” Silva said when questioned if any conversations had taken place about his future. “I am always in contact with the board.
“We are preparing not just for the present, the future is always in our mind. This week again we had a meeting. When we have something new, we will tell you.”
For Sunderland, meanwhile, their own European ambitions have stalled in recent weeks after slipping to three consecutive Premier League defeats.
Indeed, it is the first time the Black Cats have lost three in a row in the top-flight since 2016-17, their last season in the competition, while they have also now lost more games in 2026 (five in nine games) than they did in 2025 (four in 18 games).
But they had their chances, with Fulham narrowly edging the expected goals (xG) battle 1.9 to 1.8 from the same number of attempts at goal (both 12).
“The game was balanced, key moments defined the outcome. We had a big opportunity just before their goal, and then the momentum shifted,” Le Bris conceded.
“We know set-pieces are important, and we were not good enough today to manage those situations.
“The first half was a bit slow, with the ball we were not good enough. We were sloppy at times. Both teams had the opportunities. It was a tight game.”
