"From the start of the season, we defined that we wanted to stay in the top half of the table and we hope to fight for something more. We're still in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, which is a very important competition for us," recognised the 47-year-old.
Marco Silva was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a gala organised by the O Gaiense newspaper in Vila Nova de Gaia, the day after he played his 200th Premier League game, guiding the home win over city rivals Tottenham.
"Above all, we have to be realistic. We realise that some big clubs this year are not at the level they normally are and would have to be, and that gives others a window of opportunity (in the fight for access to European competitions). We have to do our job and try to win as many games as possible until the end," he emphasised.
Fulham came into the international break in eighth place, with the same 45 points as ninth-placed Aston Villa, four away from direct qualification for next season's Champions League and two away from the final UEFA qualification spot.
Before the last nine rounds, the Cottagers will host neighbours Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the Cup and will be looking to be at Wembley, the venue for the next stages and where they lost the 1974/75 final, having not played in European competition since 2011/12.
"No matter how well we do our job, it's very difficult if there isn't quality around us. The more years you've been at a club and you have stability, it's normal for the process to be acquired. Even with some changes at Fulham, which has to sell, we have shown a very clear dynamic and identity," he emphasised.
Marco Silva arrived at Fulham in 2021/22, having won the second-tier trophy straight away, after spells in the English top flight with Hull (2016/17), Watford (2017/18) and Everton (2018-2019), preceded by the Greek championship title with Olympiacos (2015/16).
"I made the decision to go abroad 10 years ago. Fortunately, I've been where I really want to be for a long time and I've worked hard to be there, but we don't know what will happen in the future. It's impossible to predict. At the moment, I'm very happy to be in the best and most competitive league in the world," said the coach, whose contract runs until 2026.
With a 10th place finish in 2022/23 and a 13th last season, Marco Silva is one of four Portuguese managers in the Premier League, along with Nuno Espírito Santo, of Nottingham Forest, surprisingly in third place, Ruben Amorim, who left Sporting four months ago for Manchester United, record holders (20) and only 13th, and Vítor Pereira, of Wolverhampton, in 17th place, above the drop zone.
"Nuno has been in English football for a long time. He arrived the previous year, when Forest weren't doing well, and achieved the goal (of staying up). Now he's having a brilliant season and has a very competitive team.
"Vítor managed to make an impact as soon as he arrived, while Ruben is at a club of a different size. We're starting to see something of the process he wants, but it will be game by game. Anyone who's been there knows that the competitiveness is very different and each challenge requires a great deal of preparation," he said.
While not commenting on Sporting's possible interest in him as Amorim's successor, the former coach of the Lions (2014/15) and Estoril Praia (2011-2014) said it was "almost impossible" to place bets on the title race with eight rounds to go.
"At the moment, it seems to me that there are two teams that are fighting until the end," he summarised, referring to national champions Sporting, who lead with 62 points, and Benfica, who are second (with one game left), with 59, six ahead of FC Porto, third, and SCBraga, fourth.
Marco Silva will be honoured with the award for best coach of the year at the O Gaiense newspaper gala, which will award the career prize to former international referee Artur Soares Dias and commemorate Pinto da Costa, former president of FC Porto, who died in February at the age of 87.