Marco Silva praised Joao Palhinha as a “leading figure through his actions” after the Fulham star salvaged a point in their match against Brighton. Palhinha’s long-range strike found the top corner in the second half, securing a 1-1 draw for Silva’s team at the Amex Stadium, where they had fallen behind to Evan Ferguson’s composed finish.
The Portugal international Palhinha has been a standout player since joining Fulham in the previous summer for a modest £17 million fee. In August, Bayern Munich made a £58 million bid for him, and he even traveled to Munich on transfer deadline day. However, Fulham ultimately turned down the offer, and Palhinha has been one of the top performers since his return to the team.
Silva stated, “It was a good goal to level the game, especially at a moment when we pressed them aggressively. It was crucial that I witnessed our team responding, playing the way I expect Fulham to play each time, and winning the ball in the right areas. Joao’s finish was outstanding. Until that point, everything was going well. It was an emotional moment in the game, and the reaction after the goal was very positive.”
Silva noted that Palhinha leads by example through his attitude and commitment, although he might not be the most vocal figure. He is also improving his English. Being a leader in his position is vital, not only for Palhinha but also for Sasa Lukic and Harrison Reed. Silva emphasized his desire to see Joao continue to lead in this manner, as his attitude, dedication, and ability to motivate those around him are qualities that are not easily found in football. Silva was particularly impressed with Palhinha’s reaction when his team lost possession.
In the first half, Silva felt that his team was prone to errors and was passive, but they rallied in the second half, taking control of the game.
“We did not meet the standards necessary to compete at this level,” he commented on their performance in the first 45 minutes. “We lacked dynamism, sharpness, and aggressiveness – perhaps we showed too much respect for Brighton. The second half was a completely different story. We were much more proactive, pressing higher up the pitch. We applied collective pressure and displayed greater belief and confidence on the ball, making it more difficult for our opponents.”