February 17th 2024.
Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool player and current football analyst, expressed his thoughts on Thiago Silva's playing time for Chelsea in the remaining matches of the season. He believes that the 39-year-old defender's days at Stamford Bridge are numbered, especially after his performance was overshadowed by his younger teammates in their recent game against Manchester City.
Silva sustained an injury during their match against Crystal Palace and was unable to play against City. However, he may still be fit in time for the Carabao Cup final. Some fans are hoping that he won't play in the final after the impressive performance of young defenders Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill in the game against City. Carragher even compared Disasi to Chelsea legend John Terry and named him as the player of the match.
Although Silva is considered one of the best defenders of his generation and has been a key player for Chelsea since joining the team in 2020, he has not been at his best this season. Despite this, manager Mauricio Pochettino has continued to rely on him, giving him significant playing time in the Premier League. However, Carragher believes that it is time for Silva to step down and make way for younger players, especially with his contract ending at the end of the season.
Carragher's comments come after Chelsea's recent games against Aston Villa in the FA Cup and Manchester City, where Silva was not included in the starting lineup. "He's been brilliant for Chelsea since he's come in," Carragher acknowledged. "But I think with his age, his contract's up at the end of the season and when you see those two players [Disasi and Colwill] in together... I think it makes it very difficult for Thiago Silva to come back into the team between now and the end of the season – unless someone gets injured."
The football analyst also believes that Chelsea should start building for the future and give opportunities to their young defenders. He suggests that they could also bring in another young centre-back, as they have several promising options in their squad such as Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana. Carragher also mentioned the recent social media controversy involving Silva's wife, Belle, who criticized Pochettino after their loss to Wolves. "The days of Thiago Silva playing at Chelsea have got to come to an end," he concluded.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Silva's future, Chelsea fans can be assured that their team has a strong and talented group of defenders who are ready to step up and make a name for themselves. As for Silva, he will always be remembered as a fantastic player who made a significant contribution to the Blues, even winning the club's Player of the Year award last season.
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