Fulham manager Marco Silva has tried to explain his outburst leading to his dismissal as the Cottagers imploded to lose 3-1 to Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.
Silva was red carded from remonstrations with the referee Chris Kavanagh while he was checking the VAR for Willian’s handball on the goal line which denied Bruno Fernandes’ goalbound shot in the 72nd minute.
Willian was sent off for his handball while Aleksandar Mitrovic was also dismissed amid the mayhem for dissent towards the referee. From there, United turned around a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 win.
The Fulham manager explained that they were upset at a first-half penalty not awarded to them.
“It’s a clear penalty on Mitro,” Silva said. “Luke Shaw pushed Mitro clearly, the referee is in a position to see, and the VAR in their office, for sure.
“It’s pressure to play at Man United away from home at Old Trafford. Until 70 minutes, we did it brilliantly, because we were clearly the best team on the pitch.
“We dominated them, we were the best team on the pitch, coming here to play at Old Trafford, and we matched them. Until that moment, they didn’t create anything. Until that moment, we were the best team.”
The Portuguese manager he wasnt sure why he’d been sent off by Kavanagh amid the chaos.
“Of course, in all the moments of the game, we should control the emotions,” he said.
“Of course, we are human beings, but we have to understand the business and the game that were playing, and we should control all the emotions.
“In that moment, I got the red card before the decision came, and if I got that card because I was out of my area and that is the reason for the referee to give me a red card, I have to accept it.
“Because, for sure, I didn’t say anything to make him give me the red card. But, I repeat again, if I’m out of my area, and there’s a reason for him to give the red card to me in the moment that he is watching the screen, I have to accept it.
“If you ask me if I should be in my area, of course, and I have to control that situation.”
Mitrovic will likely face a significant suspension for his actions, having appeared to manhandle the referee amid his protestations.
Silva added: “About Mitro, its the same. He should control the emotions of the game. Even if the decision came against us, even if in the first half he had two moments inside the box that the referee didn’t give, at least one for him, and no one told the referee to go to the screen.
“He was involved in all the moments and its tough for him. At the same time, he has to control the emotions.”
