It's been a season of ups and downs for Thiago Silva in what looks to be his final season at Chelsea - but he still has a chance to end his spell with silverware ahead of the Carabao Cup final this weekend.
The 39-year-old's contract expires this summer and looks likely to end his four-year spell at Stamford Bridge, though he has still been a key figure for Chelsea in the heart of defence this season.
The Brazilian has been using his experience to guide new faces who have arrived at the back over the last year, including Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashille - as well as youngsters Levi Colwill and Alfie Gilchrist.
But after missing the club's 1-1 draw away at Man City due to injury on Saturday, the veteran defender will be racing to return to full fitness for the huge showdown against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium - and manager Pochettino has a real dilemma on whether to select him.
It has been a difficult season for Silva, who has been a part of a Chelsea side that have leaked goals - with the Blues shipping 41 in a topsy-turvy first campaign under Mauricio Pochettino - while he has also been in the headlines off the pitch.
His wife Isabelle has come under fire for taking aim at Chelsea players and even calling for Pochettino to be sacked - being forced to apologise for her comments on social media.
Silva has been called into question at times this season after being involved in a handful of painful defeats - including crushing back-to-back losses that saw them ship eight goals against both Liverpool and Wolves.
For the impressive 1-1 draw at Premier League champions City, he was replaced by Colwill and Disasi, who impressed by frustrating the home side, with City leaving it late through Rodri after cancelling out Raheem Sterling's opener.
The pair also did well to keep out lethal finisher Erling Haaland as they took home a vital point back to Stamford Bridge.
Silva had also been missing for Chelsea's eye-catching 3-1 win away at high-fliers Aston Villa in the FA Cup earlier this month, with Colwill and Badishile deputising on that occasion.
Pundit Jamie Carragher claimed that Silva could struggle to earn his place back in the team after missing the City game through injury - but how have Chelsea fared with and without him?
Chelsea have played 29 games with Silva this season, winning thirteen of those and losing ten in figures provided by Opta.
The Blues have only had five games without Silva but when the Brazilian has been out of the team they have won three times, losing one and drawing one.
Crucially that translates to a win percentage of 60 per cent without Silva compared to 44.8 per cent with him in the side.
Chelsea have also conceded fewer goals on average without Silva - 0.8 compared to 1.4 when he plays.
But Silva - who has started 22 times in the Premier League this term - has ensured that Chelsea have had less shots against them per game, with 14 on average compared to 12.3 when he is in the team.
Though Silva is a defender, Chelsea are also scoring more on average (1.9) and having more possession (61.2 per cent).
It came after Carragher expressed doubt over Silva's future after being sidelined through injury and believes it will be 'difficult' for him to get back in the team.
'Couple of away games, you go back to Aston Villa in the cup and here today, Thiago Silva has not been involved and he's been brilliant for chelsea since he's come in,' he said.
'His contract is up at the end of the season and when you see those who play in there together, I think it makes it very difficult for Thiago Silva to get back into the team between now and the end of the season unless someone gets injured.
'I think Chelsea got to start building something for the future. There's not an awful lot to play for after the (Carabao) Cup final. I think looking at those as a partnership and maybe another younger centre back.
'I think the days of Thiago Silva playing for Chelsea has got to come to an end.'
Silva has made a total of 146 appearances for Chelsea since joining from PSG on an initial one-year deal three-and-a-half years ago, scoring eight times.
During that time he has enjoyed a handful of special trophy wins - including the Champions League in 2021, the UEFA Super Cup and the CLub World Cup.
bewadkln
2
comparing mister silva whos been rock solid season in and season out with this two kids for just one game....
Zotbiklnr
0
Not really Bro, Let's get someone of his caliber, i just use Ekong as example instead of buying all this upcoming boys at higher amount which has failed us so many times
you've got a point bro
Texz1
0
Rest Thiago
Majid44
0
Verry. well,we as city fans are looking forward to see dem stop Liverpool thi weekend๐๐if they do Chelsea will be my side-crush club ๐๐
9jaPrince
0
you're not serious, because you are nigerian we should sign a nigerian defender ?
Not really Bro, Let's get someone of his caliber, i just use Ekong as example instead of buying all this upcoming boys at higher amount which has failed us so many times
jadacdint
0
this is football and things like this happen, hope he get exactly what he deserves from Chelsea.
APReal19
3
1 game without him and the fans r calling for his head. Ungrateful fans. Silver is a legend.
Zotbiklnr
0
I think the wife of Silva already said something needs to change so We've found it ๐๐
I was thinking the same thing, I guess she was right, but it's kind of funny that her husband is the change๐๐๐
Zotbiklnr
0
Honestly we need to rush and sign Williams Troost Ekong to replace him his defense spirit and that of Silva are the same
you're not serious, because you are nigerian we should sign a nigerian defender ?
9jaPrince
2
In Silva i trust, i remembered during time of Lampard and Tuchel, Silva was a rock to our CHAMPIONS LEAGUE , we all owes him and his Family respect because it's only his wife out of others that came fully to buy tickets and watch us play every weekend and still support us. it's not easy. Silva is a Hero
9jaPrince
0
Honestly we need to rush and sign Williams Troost Ekong to replace him his defense spirit and that of Silva are the same
Feebcmnstu
0
For me Thiago silva is the only best defender for chelsea
Luzeilpuyz
0
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 411 goals since turning 30 years old, that's more than the career goals of: ๐ง๐ท Ronaldo - 360 goals ๐ซ๐ท Henry - 411 goals ๐ฆ๐ท Maradona - 194 goals ๐ฆ๐ท Di Stefano - 315 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Cruyff -327 goals ๐บ๐ฆ Shevchenko - 374 goals ๐จ๐ฎ Drogba - 367 goals ๐ซ๐ท Platini - 338 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Van Nistelrooy - 366 goals ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Rooney - 366 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Van Basten - 301 goals ๐ฎ๐น Totti - 316 goals ๐ฎ๐น Del Piero - 343 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Van Persie - 324 goals ๐ง๐ท Neymar - 375 goals ๐ช๐ธ Villa - 400 goals ๐ช๐ธ Torres - 301 goals He is ageless.
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what about skilldaldo zero appearances and zero goals
Luzeilpuyz
0
Ronaldo is great
Thats your true love
Luzeilpuyz
3
He should be made assistant manager
Luzeilpuyz
1
I think the wife of Silva already said something needs to change so We've found it ๐๐
She was talking about your briefs
Luzeilpuyz
2
Guy cant play every 3 days he is 39
Dubguy60
0
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 411 goals since turning 30 years old, that's more than the career goals of: ๐ง๐ท Ronaldo - 360 goals ๐ซ๐ท Henry - 411 goals ๐ฆ๐ท Maradona - 194 goals ๐ฆ๐ท Di Stefano - 315 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Cruyff -327 goals ๐บ๐ฆ Shevchenko - 374 goals ๐จ๐ฎ Drogba - 367 goals ๐ซ๐ท Platini - 338 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Van Nistelrooy - 366 goals ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Rooney - 366 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Van Basten - 301 goals ๐ฎ๐น Totti - 316 goals ๐ฎ๐น Del Piero - 343 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Van Persie - 324 goals ๐ง๐ท Neymar - 375 goals ๐ช๐ธ Villa - 400 goals ๐ช๐ธ Torres - 301 goals He is ageless.
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Nobody is ageless bro Ronaldo is done just as Messi
Dubguy60
0
Just a draw and already start the blaming game. Thiago is better than the rest.
Also slower than the rest of the
Dubguy60
0
Thatโs not a fair data for comparison But I still support Silva on bench duty
Yes bench duty or come in after a big lead
Dubguy60
0
give him another 1 year contract even if he plays fewest number of games so he keep on teaching those boys around him
No perhaps Chelsea can hire him as a defensive coach but not a player. Heโs done at 39. Did you how the young wolves players go around him because of lack of pace ?
memdmnt
1
T Silva is Chelsea best defender on another day Haaland score 3 and Chelsea go down by 4 or 5. Stupid comments
Ziuadekops
1
I think the wife of Silva already said something needs to change so We've found it ๐๐
yasbeiknop
0
Ronaldo is great
//Saulawa27
1
And what make a player great running through out the whole team and score goals these Messi fan boys just talk nonsense
Iโm not comparing anyone here plz! U said โMessi fans, didnโt u? Messi was and is in a league of his own whoโs incomparable to any footballer dead or alive. There was never a debate broโฆ if u like continue barking like a dog ๐ it canโt change the fact that Messi has the most; Most Goal involvement in history Most assists in history Most dribble in history Most chances created in history Most Ballan dโors in history Most individual accolades and honors in history Most decorated player in history. Continue barking and arguing with ur keyboard. Goodbye bro ๐ ๐ฅฑ
//Saulawa27
1
but who recognizes a team that plays good but doesn't score goals?
There comes ur clueless bro, the article didnโt signifies lack of goals bro, but someone been superior in goalscoring prowess. A team can win a league with lesser goals compared to 2nd, 3rd or 4th place. Be wise plz๐๐ป๐๐ป Thank you ๐๐ป
neyikmo
4
give him another 1 year contract even if he plays fewest number of games so he keep on teaching those boys around him
MaddyKotagiri
4
Itโs just 5 games without T. Silva so you cannot compare!! However Iโd like to see young players get more minutes in the final months of the season so that they will get used to each other, play big games and be ready from day one next season. We have Disasi, Colwill, Badiashile, Fofana and Gilchrist so future looks bright!!
KayPhik
1
Thatโs not a fair data for comparison But I still support Silva on bench duty
yuzciotz
0
whoever did this is an asshole
Niudempu
0
If fans like you still believes scoring goals is what makes a player greatest then uโre still clueless and ignorant about football, I must say. Ronaldo fans are mostly clueless, baseless with zero understanding of football, alas!๐๐ป๐๐ป
but who recognizes a team that plays good but doesn't score goals?
Jocempru
1
come back with the comparison when Chelsea had played 29 games without T. Silva. Stop comparing what is incomparable.
MessiisKing
0
If fans like you still believes scoring goals is what makes a player greatest then uโre still clueless and ignorant about football, I must say. Ronaldo fans are mostly clueless, baseless with zero understanding of football, alas!๐๐ป๐๐ป
And if your a striker scoring goals is what makes you a great player midfielder is passing and link up play and defenders are defending thatโs what makes the players great and Messi is a winger if he wasnโt scoring goals he wouldnโt even be a great player
MessiisKing
0
If fans like you still believes scoring goals is what makes a player greatest then uโre still clueless and ignorant about football, I must say. Ronaldo fans are mostly clueless, baseless with zero understanding of football, alas!๐๐ป๐๐ป
And what make a player great running through out the whole team and score goals these Messi fan boys just talk nonsense
//Saulawa27
1
If fans like you still believes scoring goals is what makes a player greatest then uโre still clueless and ignorant about football, I must say. Ronaldo fans are mostly clueless, baseless with zero understanding of football, alas!๐๐ป๐๐ป
sodex12345
5
Who did this analysis. Comparing 5 games with 29 games. Lol
zal2
0
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 411 goals since turning 30 years old, that's more than the career goals of: ๐ง๐ท Ronaldo - 360 goals ๐ซ๐ท Henry - 411 goals ๐ฆ๐ท Maradona - 194 goals ๐ฆ๐ท Di Stefano - 315 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Cruyff -327 goals ๐บ๐ฆ Shevchenko - 374 goals ๐จ๐ฎ Drogba - 367 goals ๐ซ๐ท Platini - 338 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Van Nistelrooy - 366 goals ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Rooney - 366 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Van Basten - 301 goals ๐ฎ๐น Totti - 316 goals ๐ฎ๐น Del Piero - 343 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Van Persie - 324 goals ๐ง๐ท Neymar - 375 goals ๐ช๐ธ Villa - 400 goals ๐ช๐ธ Torres - 301 goals He is ageless.
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Sorry u spend 10 min. writting this shit without a like even
kewdmopryz
4
Just a draw and already start the blaming game. Thiago is better than the rest.
Hansonid007
22
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 411 goals since turning 30 years old, that's more than the career goals of: ๐ง๐ท Ronaldo - 360 goals ๐ซ๐ท Henry - 411 goals ๐ฆ๐ท Maradona - 194 goals ๐ฆ๐ท Di Stefano - 315 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Cruyff -327 goals ๐บ๐ฆ Shevchenko - 374 goals ๐จ๐ฎ Drogba - 367 goals ๐ซ๐ท Platini - 338 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Van Nistelrooy - 366 goals ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Rooney - 366 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Van Basten - 301 goals ๐ฎ๐น Totti - 316 goals ๐ฎ๐น Del Piero - 343 goals ๐ณ๐ฑ Van Persie - 324 goals ๐ง๐ท Neymar - 375 goals ๐ช๐ธ Villa - 400 goals ๐ช๐ธ Torres - 301 goals He is ageless.
Juyemnrsz
1
I also noticed that
Nanayawbernard
4
We will leave that into the hands of Mauricio Pochettino.โ๐ฝโค๏ธ๐ฉธblues till I die ๐๐ฅฐ
Gudfrey
0
Me going to tell Thiago to retire from football