BOTTLE JOB! Fulham's coach Silva ripped apart for lacking 'Balls' to start Super Eagles star

Fulham boss Marco Silva faces fierce backlash from fans after failing to start Super Eagles star Samuel Chukwueze in the epic 5-4 loss to Manchester City, with supporters blasting that he should have trusted the in-form winger from the outset.

Despite the thrilling comeback attempt, they argued the decision cost Fulham a potential historic result against the champions on Tuesday night.

Erling Haaland wrote his name in Premier League history as the fastest to 100 goals, but Nigerian duo Alex Iwobi and Chukwueze nearly turned the tide in a chaotic nine-goal thriller at Craven Cottage.

City raced to a 5-1 lead through Haaland, Tijjani Reijnders, a Phil Foden brace, and a Sander Berge own goal, but Chukwueze's bench introduction sparked Fulham's revival, leading to Iwobi's strike and the winger's stunning brace.​​

Fans erupted online over Silva's call to bench Chukwueze, who has been compared to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, despite his recent heroics against Sunderland and Tottenham, where he dazzled with chances created and an assist.

One fumed, “Marco Silva should have just had the balls to start Chukwueze, managers are just funny, that was your MOTM the last game, he’s been in good form, and then you bench him; since he came on, he’s changed the game and scored a fantastic goal.”​

Others piled on, with a supporter declaring, “This is literally what I just told my brother, how could you bench a player that literally made you win your last two games, but they actually put a good fight, kudos Fulham.”

Another agreed, “He will be regretting a bit now,” while a defender of the tactic noted, “Sometimes bringing a player in, in their hunger state, helps them achieve more than starting them,” and added, “It’s not easy playing them in two games straight considering the player’s injury history”.​

Silva later admitted he would have preferred integrating Chukwueze earlier but praised his game-changing impact, signaling growing trust despite the bench role.

As AFCON 2025 looms, this debate shows Chukwueze's rising form for Nigeria's coach Eric Chelle.