Nine goal thriller as Man City survive remarkable Fulham fightback with 5-4 win

Fulham boss Marco Silva said to Sky Sports: “Bad feeling, we lost the game and it’s always a bad feeling. Some positives and things to highlight about ourselves. The main one is the character and personality of the team. When they scored two goals at start of second half it was tough. The speech at half time was to react and not concede another goal because even the first half showed us positives, they were not at the level. The way we conceded some goals tonight is something to work on but the reaction was incredible after 5-1, the fans the belief and the fans showed such respect at the end of the game speaks volumes of the players.

“Not aggressive enough in 10-15 minutes, we lost duels and against City with that quality we were soft and sloppy. That’s something for us to work on. You have to be aggressive and on the front foot. The way they scored we were very passive in some moments but great reaction from the boys.

“Erling Haaland had a good chance before the first goal but Emile [Smith-Rowe] had a chance too and these things define the game. The way we played, the way we found Emile in the spaces was the plan. Alex [Iwobi] helped and Samuel [Chukwueze] massive impact. We scored four goals at home, of course it’s a bad feeling losing the game but we scored four goals.”

On anger at end of match: “I am 100% sure that if we were winning the game and delayed so much time our players would get yellow cards. None of the City players got yellow cards tonight, so many times they wasted time. It’s normal, if we were winning we would probably do the same but I’m sure we would get cards.”

On Samuel Chukwueze: “Unfortunately we lose him in a few weeks again, great performance against Tottenham and great impact from him. He is helping the team, taking his moments and lets hope he can continue to have impact.”

Silva speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “Of course, we take many positives from the game but the feeling is not the best, as you would expect.

“Before the game, we had the ambition and the conditions, I believe, to get a different result. Massive respect to City, we knew the bad record from ourselves since 2009 against them – we wanted to change this tonight. The way we started, again, made this more difficult for us. We were too soft, we didn’t start on the front foot, like we should start these games.

“The first 20 minutes were difficult. We conceded the second goal too soft. The reaction of the team was always good, even after 1-0, we had a big chance through Emile [Smith Rowe] to score to equalise the game. It’s a game where you score four goals and lose at home, the feeling is not good.

“I told the players at half-time ‘I have a feeling you are going to score in the second half’. First minutes of the second half, we conceded straight away. The reaction was top, the belief that they showed there. We didn’t take any points but we took many, many things from this game which will help us to win games in the future.”

On what he was thinking when 5-1 down: “It was a very tough moment. I really felt during the first half that what we planned was what was needed. Off the ball, we were not aggressive enough. I really have to praise the players for their reaction. They deserve much more.”

On Josh King’s effort, cleared off the goal line in added time: “It was a great moment for us, the way the ball comes from one side to the other. It is what it is, it’s football. Probably the players deserve a point but let’s move forward for Crystal Palace.”

On the home support: “The respect that the fans showed at the end of the game means more than one point. They did something that is not normal in football because the fans showed that respect. We have to move on and we’ll need them again on Sunday.”

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland speaking to Sky Sports:

“I think if you’re sitting at home now you enjoyed that game. It was a crazy game, nine goals is a lot. In the end, we win and we’re happy but it’s not the best win.”

On 100 league goals: “It’s huge and I’m really proud. Of course it’s a massive thing, 100 club is a nice thing to be in and I’m happy.

“I knew about it, that’s what I tried to do. I try to help the team scoring goals, that’s my job.

“Every game is a different game, you can’t think of the game that’s been you need to focus on what’s ahead. The reality is we lost against Newcastle and Leverkusen but now we have two in a row and we have to keep going. It’s a tough schedule. Many games now in the next month. Game by game and recover for the next one.

Do you expect to score in every game? “I don’t want to say those words but when you’re a striker for Man City you should be delivering great numbers. That’s my job, people should criticise me if I don’t and that’s normally what they do. I should deliver.”

On Alan Shearer record: “I know about it but I don’t think too much about it.”

On closing the gap on Arsenal: “It’s important, Arsenal came here and won here. Fulham are a great team but we shouldn’t think too much about Arsenal. We should focus on ourselves, today wasn’t good enough and we know this. We need to improve as a team and that’s what we’ll do.”

Haaland speaking to Match of the Day: “[It was] chaotic. Nine goals in a game is too much. If you’re watching this game at home, it should be match of the day as you said! It was a crazy game.”

On what he was thinking at 5-1: “I thought of scoring the sixth – like I always do. I think at 5-2 or 5-3 I was close to scoring and then they went and made it 5-3 so that’s football, that’s the beauty of football. That’s why we love the game.”

On his 100 Premier League goals: “Proud moment. 100 club is a huge thing. To do it this quickly is amazing. I’m proud, I’m happy.

“I’ve said it many times – a striker for City should score a lot of goals. That’s my job, that’s what I try to do. And I’m not bad at it!

“I should have had a hat-trick, I had a few chances. I need to practice.”

On whether he has another hundred goals in him: “Why not?”