Raul Jimenez brought up his 50th Premier League goal as Fulham ended Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten start to the season with a 1-0 victory at the City Ground — but the Mexican should not have been given the chance to score, revealed boss Marco Silva.
The 33-year-old has endured a long road to get to the milestone. Most notably, he was told by doctors that it was a miracle he was alive after requiring emergency surgery following a horror head clash with then Arsenal defender David Luiz in a match at the Emirates four years ago.
Coincidentally, he scored his landmark goal on Saturday against a Forest side managed by Nuno Espirito Santo, for whom he starred when the pair were together at Wolves.
However, Fulham manager Silva revealed he had words later with Jimenez after he decided to take the ball away from Andreas Pereira, who is the team’s designated penalty-taker.
‘It’s already sorted and it will not happen again, for sure,’ said Silva.
He hit the half-ton when he scored from the penalty spot, but he wasn't meant to take it
‘That type of situation is clear, it’s decided before the match. Raul knew that moment was for Andreas Pereira, not for him. They spoke and it is decided it will not happen again. The players know the rules we have to have as a team and as a squad.’
Despite his reprimand, Silva reserved a sliver of praise for Jimenez, who also made it three goals in three matches to keep up Fulham’s best start to a season since 2003.
‘He is in a very good moment, it’s nice to see him back,’ added Silva. ‘It’s nice for him to score and be decisive again after a big injury last season.
‘He deserves all the praise because he has been working really hard from the first day of pre-season and didn’t stop after not being picked.’