Chelsea update: Thiago Silva stays back at Cobham during the international break, and Mauricio Pochettino stands to gain.
Chelsea’s veteran defender Thiago Silva, amid the recent international break, has remained at Cobham. Given the demands placed on the squad during this break, Mauricio Pochettino can view this as positive news. Unlike his South American counterparts, the 39-year-old will be fully rested for the upcoming clash against Arsenal on Saturday.
This season, as has already been the case for Pochettino, Chelsea has grappled with managing fatigue and injuries resulting from long international journeys, particularly for Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. However, for the second time in succession, Pochettino can call upon Silva without significant concern.
As the oldest outfield player in the league and a pivotal part of the defense, Silva requires more care than most. He is one of only three players to have played every minute of every game and is expected to play a central role in the defensive strategy when they face Arsenal in two days.
For Silva, this mini-break is not a decision he made himself. He clarified, “I didn’t make any decision not to go to the national team,” during an interview with ESPN Brazil. Despite earning 113 caps for his country, Silva has been omitted from the national squad since the last World Cup, where he played a crucial role.
The current interim manager, Fernando Diniz, has opted for younger options like Eder Militao, Gabriel Magalhaes, Marquinhos, and Gleison Bremer, depending on their fitness. Silva explained, “It’s not my decision. I’m always available when the CBF calls up. But so far I haven’t been told anything. I just haven’t been called for these recent opportunities. But if they think I’m able to help in this process, for sure I’ll do my best to help. But as long as that doesn’t happen, I’ll try to do my job in the best way possible here at Chelsea.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his international selection, Silva remains dedicated to his role at Chelsea and in the Premier League. While questions linger about the defensive lineup for the upcoming match against Arsenal, Silva’s presence offers a significant advantage to Pochettino and Chelsea by preserving his legs during the international break.
