Marco Silva exclusive: Ruben Amorim relationship, being overlooked

Ruben Amorim has been the protagonist in the Manchester United soap opera over the past week. His words. Marco Silva featured too. His name continued to come up with that job. But Fulham fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing their head coach is staying.

Silva and Amorim's journeys share some similarities. Their playing careers began at Portuguese club Belenenses and, of course, they both coached Sporting. The question was always going to be asked.

"We have a good relationship," Silva tellsSky Sports,tucked away in a small room at Fulham's training ground. "Not a relationship that we speak every week but a good relationship. He's a very good manager and this is a moment to welcome him to the Premier League.

"His qualities speak for themselves. He's been doing a very, very good job in Portugal and he's going to enjoy, for sure, the task that he has in front of him."

This is just the latest appointment of a coach without Premier League experience to one of the traditional 'big six'. Liverpool chose Arne Slot, Chelsea chose Enzo Maresca, Tottenham chose Ange Postecoglou, Man Utd chose Amorim and before him Erik ten Hag.

Premier League-proven coaches like Silva and Brentford's Thomas Frank - whose sides play each other onMonday Night Football, live onSky Sports- continue to be overlooked. Are the so-called bigger clubs underappreciating the talent right under their noses?

"I don't know and it's difficult to answer," says Silva. "Each club has people in charge to take decisions, important decisions for them. You have your idea what you want to achieve or to sign. And, when you go for a manager, it's more or less the same thing.

"It's the decisions from the club that we have to respect. Each one has to do his own job. About the future, you never know what is going to happen."

Silva will undoubtedly continue to be linked with the top jobs but, in the meantime, it feels only right to shine a light on the fine work he has done at Fulham since taking charge in the summer of 2021.

The Portuguese has restored the west London club to Premier League regulars after yo-yoing up and down from the Championship five times in the years preceding his appointment.

"I remember the way people were speaking about this football club after we won the Championship, the predictions from everybody speaking about the Premier League, what is going to happen with Fulham again," he said.

Into Silva's fourth campaign, the longest he has spent at one club, and no one is talki