Much of Chelsea’s focus over the past year under Todd Boehly’s stewardship has been on the eye-watering and record-breaking £600million invested in the playing squad, but it’s Thiago Silva’s presence in the dressing room that may benefit the club’s next manager the most. It’s been a disastrous first campaign with Chelsea’s new owners in charge, despite the huge sums they’ve spent on new signings.
The likes of Raheem Sterling, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Mykahylo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez have all been brought in for big money while dozens of others have been signed with an eye for the future. It’s left Chelsea with a bloated squad which ultimately Graham Potter was unable to get the best out of.
The Blues have been heavily criticised for their transfer model this season with pundits such as Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville questioning the direction of the club. And Silva has now become the first player to speak out against Chelsea’s transfer strategy, insisting something has to change.
“I think the first step has been made, an incorrect step, but it has been made,” he told TNT Sports. “We can’t be blaming the managers if we don’t take responsibility. It’s a hard period for the club, with a lot of indecision.
“Change of ownership, new players arriving – we had to increase the size of the changing room because it didn’t fit the size of the squad. A positive point is that there are amazing players in the squad but on the other hand there are always players that are going to be unhappy.
“There is always going to be someone upset because not everyone can play. The manager can only pick 11 from a squad of 30-something – that’s tough. Some can’t make the squad, we signed eight in January, we need to stop and put a strategy in place otherwise next season we could make the same mistakes.”
It’s the kind of remark that would potentially get a player in trouble with ownership but Chelsea can’t exactly argue against Silva’s assessment. He’s one of just a few Chelsea players who can hold their head up high from this woeful campaign with the Brazilian really stepping into his own as a leader at Stamford Bridge.
It’s something Chelsea’s next manager will desperately need to have someone like Silva on his side in having an ear to the ground with the rest of the squad. Frank Lampard was the man who managed to poach Silva on a free transfer back in 2020 where he played a crucial role in Chelsea winning the Champions League the following year.
Despite turning 39 years of age in September, Silva was handed a new one-year contract back in February to keep him at the club until next summer. Having Silva at the club for what’s set to be a transitionary year for whoever takes charge could be key to helping them reach their future goals.
His leadership both on and off the pitch can’t be bought by Chelsea’s mega-rich owners, but the decision to hand him a new contract may be the best piece of business they’ve done all year.
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