According to Marco Silva, his time as Hull City’s manager was the “most difficult moment” of his managerial career in England. The Portuguese spoke candidly about the severe injuries Ryan Mason sustained on January 22, 2017, when the Tigers went to Chelsea in the Premier League and got into a heated argument with Gary Cahill.
The midfield player suffered a fractured skull that required surgery and the implantation of fourteen metal plates. He then had a rehabilitation program that lasted a full year. Mason, who has one England cap, was compelled to give up football in 2018 after receiving medical advice from a specialist.
Just 17 days had passed since Silva took over as manager of the MKM Stadium when Mason was hurt. “From a personal point of view, the most difficult moment that I have had so far in England was the moment when Chelsea played against Hull City, the moment with Ryan Mason,” stated Silva, who is currently playing for Fulham, his fourth premier league club.
“I played with him at Hull. That is a personal matter; for all football fans, it was an extremely trying time.”
Silva, who has also managed Everton and Watford, was responsible for the Tigers’ Premier League relegation that year. “In the end, we are in this sport to deliver to the fans what they expect,” he said to TNT Sports. They are the most significant factor in every club, so in football, that is the main thing.
The fan base, the encouragement, the quality time spent with them, the successful outcomes, and the numerous memorable moments shared by the players and the fans.
“The hardest times always arise when you are unable to meet the expectations of your supporters in terms of performance. I am aware that they are constantly focused on the end result, and occasionally they don’t give the outcome much more thought because they are so devoted to their football teams.
“Always the most difficult moments in football is when you don’t deliver for the fans what they expect from you.”
