Marco Silva responds to Chelsea links after Liam Rosenior sacking | OneFootball

Fulham boss thought to be a leading contender to take helm at Stamford Bridge

Marco Silva kept his cards close to his chest when asked whether he would be interested in taking over as Chelsea manager.

The Blues once again find themselves on the hunt for a new first-team head coach after Liam Rosenior was relieved of his duties on Wednesday evening.

Silva is out of contract this summer and is yet to commit his future to the Cottagers. He made no secret of his frustration with the club’s hierarchy after a markedly unproductive summer transfer window, and that animosity may resurface if star forward Harry Wilson is allowed to leave for free this summer.

Silva snapped at reporters when asked whether he would be keen to take the vacant Chelsea job, but did not rule himself out of the running.

“No. Why is it different this week? It is not at all,” he said.

Calum McFarlane, a member of Rosenior’s backroom staff, will take charge as Chelsea’s interim head coach until the end of the campaign.

Silva continued, insisting that he and the Fulham hierarchy are ‘aligned’ on their long-term goals.

“We know what we want to achieve – we are ambitious, but at the same time realistic and aligned. We are always aligned since the first day I joined the football club and it is going to be (the same) until the end.”

Fulham sit 12th in the Premier League with five matches left to play, and have a European berth within reach. They face a tricky run-in, though, with Arsenal, Newcastle and Aston Villa all still to play.

A rash of injuries will not help his performance in the run-in. Alex Iwobi and Kenny Tete are both sidelined, though club-record signing Kevin is back on the grass and closing in on a return to action.

“[It's] really bad news to lose a player like [Alex] Iwobi. Kenny [Tete] is still out, but back on the grass.

“Kevin is doing individual work but will be out. Difficult to say a time-scale on Alex, but back before the end of the season.”