Marco Silva beams as Fulham prove FA Cup credentials with win over Manchester United | OneFootball

West London side reach final eight of the competition for second time in three years

Marco Silva said he “loved” the composure Fulham showed in their victorious penalty shootout against Manchester United and insisted an FA Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace will be “very tough”.

Calvin Bassey scored the opener, Bruno Fernandes levelled for the hosts, but Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno saved spot-kicks from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee to book his side a quarter-final place.

“I loved the composure from our side,” Silva said of the shootout, in which Leno saved twice and Fulham scored all four of their penalties through Raul Jimenez, Sander Berge, Willian and Antonee Robinson.

“[Bernd Leno] is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, in my opinion. He has been showing that.

“The players were tired in the last 30 minutes, but we took the risk to be the dominant team on the pitch. I’m really proud the way, with less energy, they kept their personality and composure in that moment.

“We wanted to be in the next stage, the quarter-final. It's my feeling that we deserved to be there.”

Silva added: “It's not easy to come here and to control the game, knowing they have the open space to counter-attack. First half we were not at our best. We changed some things at half time. Then we built in the second half. Extra time was the same. The game was balanced, but much more us in control.”

Asked about drawing Palace, Silva said: "From the first day of the competition - not just now we've won against Manchester United - I have been saying we are really serious in this competition.

"Palace is going to be very tough. They have been great away for home."