Fulham captain Tom Cairney says this current teammate is the best player he’s ever played with.
Fulham currently boast a first-team brimming with talent. But that’s not always been the case, and Cairney perhaps knows that better than anyone.
The Scot joined in 2015 when Fulham were in the Championship, then after three seasons in the second tier, he helped guide the Whites to promotion under Slavisa Jokanovic.
Relegation followed, with an immediate return under Scott Parker and then another immediate relegation.
But Marco Silva then arrived and stormed the Championship, before settling Fulham into the Premier League once and for all.
Silva has transformed the club and Fulham now play host to some top footballers, with one being Willian.
Tom Cairney lauds Willian as ‘best player’ he’s played with
Cairney was a guest on the most recent episode of the Footballer’s Football Podcast, and when discussing the 35-year-old Willian, he said:
“What a player. He is the best player I have ever played with by a mile. His touch, his brain, the way he moves the ball, his decision making. I just can’t imagine what he was like to play with seven or eight years ago at Chelsea. And in my opinion he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves because Hazard was that good in the same team that people don’t talk about him in the way they should. Because Hazard was ridiculous but for four or five years Willian was one of the best players in the Premier League and he’s 35 now and still stops dead and shifts it and you can’t get near it, and he’s 35.”
The 70-cap Brazilian joined Fulham on a one-year deal ahead of last season, but earned himself a one-year extension after scoring five and assisting five more in 27 Premier League appearances in his first with Fulham.
This time round, Willian has four goals and one assist in 19 league appearances, with Fulham currently sat in 13th place of the table.
Willian signing symbolic of huge rise at Craven Cottage
Fulham have certainly been through some dark times in their modern history. But right now, the club is in a good place, and that’s shown by the likes of Willian, Bernd Leno, Timothy Castagne, Joao Palhinha, and now Armando Broja all wanting to come and play at Craven Cottage.
Silva has certainly put Fulham back on the map and whilst this season has been difficult at times, with Fulham far from being out of the woods in the relegation picture, there’s certainly a vision for the club, and players like Willian can help achieve that.
Despite his age, like Cairney says, he remains a player with great physical and technical attributes, and he’s still finding the back of the net on a fairly regular basis.
If he can continue his form this season then he’ll surely come into consideration for a new deal ahead of next season.
Fulham return to action vs Bournemouth this weekend.