'Look deeper': Marco Silva explains Fulham team selection after FA Cup disaster against Southampton | OneFootball

Cottagers dumped out of cup contention after Portuguese made nine changes to his side

Marco Silva insisted his team selection was not to blame for Fulham’s shock FA Cup defeat by Southampton on Sunday, saying his heavily rotated side had more than enough quality to beat Championship opposition.

Silva’s squad was strong despite the changes, with Premier League regulars Samuel Chukwueze, Oscar Bobb, Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon all in from the off alongside veteran Tom Cairney. Talisman forward Harry Wilson was absent through injury.

Speaking at full-time, a dejected Silva refused to take the blame for the defeat, instead pointing the finger at his squad.

Asked whether his selection was the problem, he told BBC Sport: “It's more than that. It was a bad afternoon for us and for our fans. We need to look deeper because I'm not pleased at all with what has happened this afternoon.

Despondent: Timothy Castagne won the FA Cup with Leicester in 2021 but played a key part in an ignominious defeat at Craven Cottage

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“This one is more than a defeat - if it's because of the changes then fine, I get it - but [Ryan] Sessegnon and [Timothy] Castagne have played this season against top Premier League sides, Oscar Bobb and Samuel Chukwueze are at the level.

“We have to look deeper. I understand that I get the blame for making the changes."

He added: “Nine changes are nine changes, but I look at it in a different way because all these players have been starting games for us against Premier League sides, and most of them ten or 15 games so far this season.”

Pressed as to what went wrong on pitch, he explained: “It's simple, when you have 24 shots and they don't have many clear-cut chances.

“We arrived in their box, created from the sides but with end product we have to finish, have to be quicker and arrive in the right spots in the box.

“They have five shots and have chances to score, any moment on the counter was a chance for them. It's about mindset. The end product of our team was not the level it should be.”

Fulham sit tenth in the Premier League with nine matches left to play, while Southampton sit four points outside the play-off places in the Championship.

Decisive: Substitute Ross Stewart scores from the spot to send Southampton through to the FA Cup quarter-finals

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Fulham were booed off by the home supporters at full-time, but Silva committed to finishing the season on a high despite a disappointing end to their cup run.

"It's our obligation,” he declared. “We have to understand it was a very, very bad afternoon.

“We know anything can happen on football but it's more than that.

“We have to look deeper because it was not good enough and that starts with me looking at myself.”