COBHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Thomas Tuchel of Chelsea during a press conference at Chelsea Training Ground on September 16, 2021 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Thomas Tuchel has revealed that defender Thiago Silva is one of the most “intensive” players in Chelsea training.
Silva, who turns 37 tomorrow, is a senior member of the Blues squad that continues to deliver top-class performances at his age.
The Brazilian centre-back picked up the man of the match award for his weekend display against Tottenham, scoring a header and defending superbly in a 3-0 away win.
He’s clearly the ultimate professional to still be doing what he’s doing in the latter stages of his career. The ex-Paris Saint-Germain man has taken English football in his stride since his switch to Stamford Bridge last summer.
Tuchel has given an insight into what the £105,000-a-week South American is like behind closed doors at Chelsea’s training ground Cobham.
“When he’s on the pitch he trains full on, there is no training session where he is trying to hold back. He is one of the most intensive guys in training physically,” Tuchel said. Fortunately, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has several quality centre-backs in his squad that it allows him to rotate in certain fixtures.
If the Blues are preparing for a big game, it seems a no-brainer to bring Silva into the heart of the back-three given his experience and leadership.
He was a colossus against Spurs and he’s rubbing off on the likes of Andreas Christensen in defence.
There were some eyebrows raised when Silva joined on a free transfer last summer, but he’s turned out to be an amazing addition that ended up fulfilling his aim of winning the Champions League last season.
There are still a few match-winning performances left in his locker, though, in this new campaign.
