Thiago Silva has just turned 38, but the Brazilian still has a huge role to play for Chelsea this season. With an influx of youth players arriving at Stamford Bridge since Todd Boehly’s arrival, Silva’s experience will be vital in the early days of the Mauricio Pochettino era.
Can Chelsea Get Back into the Champions League?
Getting back into the Champions League is the priority for Chelsea this season. Europe’s elite club competition is the place to be for the big clubs, and betting on the Champions League is huge in the betting industry. This itself isn’t surprising, considering the industry is worth £14 billion in the UK. Due to the growth of the market, bookmakers looking for betting software can find ready-made solutions, with systems offering sportsbooks on 500,000 pre-match events.
The Blues may be outsiders in the top-four betting but they still represent a scenario for bookmakers to host bets. In terms of the team, Pochettino is more than capable of guiding Chelsea to the Champions League in his first year in west London. With no European football to deal with this season, Chelsea’s focus will be on performing in the Premier League, especially after last term’s disappointment.
£1 Billion Spent Under Boehly
During the summer transfer window, Chelsea’s spending under Boehly passed £1 billion. That is an astronomical amount of money, even by the Premier League’s high standards. The Chelsea faithful will be demanding instant results, but it could take time for the squad to settle under the new boss.
Experience is key within a young squad, and there are not many more experienced players than Chelsea’s Silva. The Brazil international has won just about everything at the club and international level, and he will be a crucial player for Pochettino this term.
Training day! #Cobham #ChelseaFC #ThiagoSilva pic.twitter.com/hbScTZctpN
— Thiago Silva (@tsilva3) July 7, 2023
Chelsea have made a slow start to the 2023-24 season, already suffering defeats to West Ham United and Nottingham Forest. However, there have been positive signs too. They drew with Liverpool in game one and ended the long winless run at Stamford Bridge with a home victory over Luton Town at the end of August.
Even at 38, Silva continues to play in the heart of the defence. Ahead of the first international break of the new campaign, Silva has played every minute of Premier League action. England’s top tier is renowned for its fast pace, so Silva is doing a remarkable job of keeping up.
Silva’s Experience is Vital
With a new manager coming in and a massive overhaul of players, this is another transitional season for Chelsea. Therefore, experienced players such as Silva and Raheem Sterling are more important than ever.
It’s been 3 years to the day since we signed Thiago Silva from PSG…
— Uber Chelsea FC (@UberChelseaFC_) August 28, 2023
How would you sum his Chelsea career up in ONE word?
🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/U6RQX6ZeIx
Silva has won the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup during his time at the Bridge. He also won several league titles with Paris Saint-Germain in France and was a Serie A winner with AC Milan back in 2011.
Silva is like a fine wine, and Chelsea fans should enjoy him before he hangs up his boots in the not-so-distant future. Unfortunately, at 38, time is not on his side, but the Brazilian defender still has a lot to offer at Stamford Bridge.
