Fulham manager Marco Silva has told Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze that he must prove he deserves a place in the starting XI, insisting that only the “best legs” will start for the team.
Chukwueze, 26, joined Fulham on a season-long loan from AC Milan. He has made several substitute appearances but is yet to start a Premier League game for the Cottagers.
Silva said he believes Chukwueze has the potential to make an impact, but added that the winger must deliver in key areas — “the biggest challenge … is not one v one, but finishing.”
“He has to prove his quality … and that he is ready to start games.”
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Despite the challenge, Silva expressed confidence that Chukwueze’s opportunity will come: “The moment (to start) will arrive for Samuel too. We feel he can have an impact for us.”
Editorial
Marco Silva’s message to Samuel Chukwueze is simple, yet profound talent alone does not guarantee a place — performance does. In a Premier League setup where pressure is unrelenting, Silva is challenging Chukwueze not as a flair player, but as a professional who must deliver when it matters.
Chukwueze’s move from Milan was meant to provide him with a fresh start, a platform to reignite a career that promised so much. But Silva’s bar is set high. He is looking not for flash runs or individual dribbles, but for consistent influence — the kind that changes matches, not just excites fans.
There is a method in Silva’s challenge. By calling out finishing as Chukwueze’s biggest test, he is pushing him to refine what makes a difference at this level. It’s a test of maturity, composure, and mental strength.
For Chukwueze, this could be a turning point. If he answers Silva’s call and starts producing when given the chance he could justify this loan move in a way that sets him up for something more permanent. But if he falters, he risks being another talented name who never quite found his place.
Did You Know?
- Chukwueze joined Fulham on a season-long loan from AC Milan.
- Silva has said that Chukwueze’s “moment to start” will come he believes he can make a real impact.
- According to Silva, finishing is Chukwueze’s biggest challenge: not his dribbling or one-v-one play.
- When Chukwueze first joined Fulham, he had only two days of training with the squad before being considered for match selection.
- Fulham’s coach has publicly questioned Chukwueze’s early squad integration, joking that he “probably doesn’t know all his teammates’ names.”
