Thiago Silva fell down the Chelsea hierarchy following the team’s lackluster Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid on Tuesday night, blaming their ‘indecisiveness’ for West London’s disappointing season.
The experienced defender – who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel – made a disappointed figure on the field after the final whistle when he was comforted by Frank Lampard.
A defeat at Stamford Bridge not only prevented Chelsea from competing for silverware this season, but all but sealed next season’s fate in Europe.
The Blues are currently eleventh in the Premier League table and are in their worst form since 1993 after four defeats in all competitions.
Todd Boehly and co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali came under fire during a speech in the dressing room after the side’s weekend loss to Brighton, in which they reportedly picked a ‘senior player’ and left him disillusioned on his way into the game from Tuesday. called the team performance “embarrassing.”
Thiago Silva lashed out at Chelsea’s owners, blaming their ‘indecisiveness’ for a disappointing season
Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly were on hand and saw their way into the dressing room following the club’s defeat to Real Madrid
After the game, Silva spoke out about the ‘wrong move’ taken by the owners, saying the team’s demise cannot be attributed solely to their managers – four in all as it stands now.
“I think the first step has been taken. A wrong move, but it’s been made,’ Silva began.
“We can’t blame the managers if we don’t take responsibility. It is a tough period for the club, with a lot of indecision.
“Transfer of ownership, arrival of new players – we had to enlarge the dressing room because it didn’t fit the size of the team.”
Silva’s reference to space issues for Chelsea’s unwieldy squad of over 30 was previously reported by the Mail Sport, after it emerged in the wake of former manager Graham Potter’s sacking that some had been forced to leave due to the influx of players over the January period. turned into Cobham’s corridors.
The former Paris Saint-Germain defender stressed that while this meant there were “great players”, there were always a few who were “dissatisfied” with their playing time.
“There will always be someone upset because not everyone can play,” Silva continued.
“The manager can only choose 11 from a squad of 30, which is difficult.
“Some can’t make the squad, we signed eight in January, we have to stop and strategize or we could make the same mistakes next season.”
Despite the influx of players in West London, Silva regularly makes the Blues’ starting eleven
New recruits Joao Felix, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling were three of the Boehly-era players to appear at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea’s selection issues were dissected by BT Sport’s pundits during Tuesday’s game, with Michael Owen calling owner Todd Boehly that his failure to sign a striker during his £600million spree was ‘one of the greatest mysteries of all time’ .
Disgraced goalkeeper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was signed to host a reunion with his former Borussia Dortmund coach Tuchel – days before the German was sacked – was dropped from Chelsea’s Champions League squad ahead of their first quarter left-final draw against Real Madrid.
As the Blues would narrow their focus to the appointment of Julian Nagelsmann as Potter’s long-term replacement, Silva pointed out that a change of manager would not be a one-size-fits-all solution.
“Everyone talks too much about replacing managers. I think we as players also have to take our responsibility,” he said.
“We’ve had three managers this season plus a fourth with Bruno where we couldn’t win. We lost today and with Lampard we didn’t win.
“Everyone is talking about the manager, but we need to look at what was done wrong and try to change.”
Silva has been a respected presence in the Chelsea dressing room since arriving in West London in January 2021, but at 38, Silva is the oldest player in the Premier League and realizes his career is drawing to a close.
His Chelsea contract has another year to run and while the Brazilian is a highly valued member of the starting eleven, Silva has been realistic about his long-term future.
Tuesday night was Silva’s 105th appearance in the Champions League, and possibly his last.
“It’s been a very difficult season and a frustrating one for me personally,” said Silva.
It was probably my last game in the Champions League.
Silva was disappointed when he thought Tuesday could be his last European outing
But the focus will shift to the competition as Frank Lampard continues to chase his first win in the lead
“I only have one year left on my contract and my career is coming to an end. It’s a very sad day.
“But I think we have to keep working to try to win as many games as possible until the end of the season.”
Due to a new schedule surrounding Manchester United’s FA Cup commitments, Chelsea have a week to regroup before returning to Stamford Bridge for their league game against Brentford.
Lampard and his team are looking for the first win of his second stint as leader of the Blues.