Fulham ‘not ready’ for Premier League – Silva

Fulham boss Marco Silva believes the club are not ready for the new Premier League season because of a lack of signings in the transfer window.

Silva has so far added Kevin Mbabu, Joao Palhinha, Andreas Pereira and Manor Solomon to his squad this summer but feels the absence of further incomings means Fulham are ill-prepared.

When asked whether the club were ready for the new season, which starts next Saturday at home to Liverpool, Silva said: “No. These players, they are ready for the Premier League. The players that we have right now, I congratulate them for the work they have been doing.

“We, as a squad, we are not ready. These players, they are ready.

“I have to tell you, and I don’t want to speak for too much time about the situation, I want to be clear with you; now we have 16 senior players in our squad. No-one competes at this level with 16 senior players in your squad.

“I will tell you one more. No-one can prepare for one season with just two central defenders. We have two central defenders at this level.

“I can continue, and I will not stop, but I don’t want to talk more about it. I’m talking because you ask me.

“I’m really happy with this group of players that we have. But everyone that understands football can see we need at least five or six more players.

“That is clear, if you really want to be competitive. These players need help to be competitive in the training sessions every single day.

“We cannot be five weeks into the pre-season with two central defenders. We can’t be competitive in this situation and I can talk more positions as well but this will not help at all.”

Fulham are yet to strengthen in the centre of defence, with Tim Ream and Tosin Adarabioyo currently the only two senior players available to Silva in that position.

But the Whites boss insisted he and those above him – chief executive Alistair Mackintosh and director of football operations Tony Khan – are working hard to add new faces.

“We are all on the same page. We are all in the same boat. My words are not against anyone,” he said.

“Don’t get confused, don’t start to put that Marco is angry. No. I am being realistic with you like I was yesterday with them and two days ago with them.

“Of course it is a frustrating situation, definitely. But it’s for them as well because they are trying and they are not getting what we want or the players that we should have here right now.

“Of course we are speaking every single day with Alistair and of course speaking every single day with other connections. I am doing my best, they are doing their best as well, but we have to act.

“As I said last week, and I repeat again, we have to act much faster. Pre-season is to prepare your team for the Premier League.

“Some players that arrive now, they need four weeks to be ready. They need five weeks to be ready. That is the situation.”