Ahead of Sunday's FA Cup match against Stoke City, Marco Silva stated that he has not made any judgments based on Stoke City's current league performance. Despite a strong start to the season, Stoke City have only managed three draws and three losses in their last six matches. Marco Silva believes it would be unwise to overanalyze this short-term result.  

Marco Silva said: "They started very well and have maintained a favorable position in the playoffs. They played very strongly and were in good form at the beginning. When the club as a whole is in good form, away games are always challenging because the atmosphere at home is very passionate."  

"Of course, they have experienced a slump. The Championship is very competitive, and this is possible. Despite their recent poor performance, we are not focused on short-term results, but rather on the overall strength of the team and the overall level of the club."  

"If our opponents want to use our last match to formulate strategies, then we are not in the same form as we were a month ago. We must respond, respect our opponents, and be aware that they have a strong team, which will pose a serious challenge to us."  

As in previous years, Marco Silva's goal is to go as far as possible in the competition, emphasizing that even adjustments to the team are aimed at improvement. When asked about the importance of the FA Cup to him, he said: "This competition is very important to us. I don't like empty talk; we must prove ourselves on the pitch. Every time we participate in such a competition, our goals are high, and we are eager to advance to the final stage."  

"Of course, we must take the game seriously. Sometimes, people want to take it seriously, but they make six or seven adjustments in one game without any logic between them. Sometimes we have to play three games a week, and those players who sit on the bench for a long time should also get a chance to show their strength. This can help the whole team move in unison, create healthy competition, and thus enhance the overall strength of the team."  

“We are absolutely serious. In the past four and a half years, we have failed to reach any final, but we have made it to the quarterfinals in different cup competitions every year. We are eager to go further, and this competition is our opportunity to achieve that goal.”  

"This season, we've reached the League Cup quarter-finals again. In the match against Newcastle United, we missed the chance to advance to the semi-finals in the last minute. We hope to at least maintain the same momentum and advance to the later stages of the competition. To do that, we must once again show our strength and defeat this difficult Championship team."  

"FA Cup matches are very challenging, especially against Championship teams. We must fully respect our opponents and remain humble. If we fail to play at our best, the match will be very difficult. Our goal is to play at a high level, strive for victory, and then move on to the next challenge."  

Image source: Internet/Fulham official website