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The outgoing Brazilian has highlighted his top six matches for the Blues, recollecting a bittersweet debut and that gratifying night in Porto.
Departing Chelsea defender Thiago Silva has drawn attention to his six memorable matches at the West London club.
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18:42 - 07.05.2024
Official: Chelsea legend Thiago Silva will return to childhood club Fluminense
The Brazilian, who departs Chelsea after four years, is on an emotional return to his former club, Fluminense.
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14:11 - 29.04.2024
Goodbye Chelsea: Top 5 moments of Thiago Silva's Stamford Bridge career
Thiago Silva enjoyed many impressive moments at Chelsea. His experience, defensive quality, and leadership continue to be an invaluable asset for the club.
After four mixed years in West London, the Brazilian defender is leaving the capital club having forged a special bond with the club’s supporters following his Paris Saint-Germain arrival in 2020.
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Silva, 39, will return to his home club Fluminense 16 years after his last appearance for the Rio de Janeiro club in December 2008, with Sunday’s Premier League game against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge his last for the Blues.
Silva reveals most memorable games for Chelsea
The 39-year-old joined at 35 on a one-year deal but his class shone through after a bittersweet start. Speaking to the club, the centre-back chose the six games he will always remember from his four-year stint.
“'My first game for Chelsea (against West Bromwich). I remember well,” recalled Silva. “The opportunity to wear the shirt was a big responsibility. I felt that. But in this game, I was also given the captain's armband by [Frank] Lampard.
“That was the positive. Then there is the negative, I think Chelsea fans will remember. I made a big mistake; practically gave a goal away. It was not my best moment but it was important.
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“It made me grow and helped me realise that this league, the Premier League, was different from what I had come from. It made me understand.”
The centre-back also noted the league fixture against Leicester City in May 2021 as special, as it marked the return of supporters in some capacity at Stamford Bridge.
“Special day. Obviously, because of the pandemic, we had been playing without supporters in the stadium,” remarked Silva. “I had felt the love of the Chelsea fans through social media but to have 8,000 in Stamford Bridge was different. The noise! I remember it felt like there were 45,000 fans in the stadium that night.
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“I was touched by that – and it gave me a real feeling that we were getting back to normality. That we also won for those supporters meant it was a good day for us.”
Perhaps most importantly, Silva pointed to the club’s historic night in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City in Porto as another memorable moment in Chelsea blue, despite being forced off before the interlude.
The fixture was decided by a Kai Havertz goal in the opening 45 minutes, marking the centre-back’s first triumph in the competition circa a year after ending on the losing side with PSG in 2020.
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“I smile when I see this picture. The year before, when I was with Paris, I lost the final,” reflected the outgoing defender. “Then I changed clubs and in my first season achieved this dream. You think, 'How can it happen in this way?!' Only God has the answers and knows the moments.
“Of course, it was not the game I expected as I got injured in the first half. We all have an ego and we all want to play in these games – a Champions League final! – but my ego in relation to what my teammates and the club needed wasn't important at that moment.
“I could have continued but I wasn't 100% able to help the team. So I decided with [Thomas] Tuchel to come off and for Andreas [Christensen] to come in. He had a brilliant season so it felt right, and he did so well.
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“It was not easy watching but I felt so happy and as if I had played the 90 minutes! What a crazy day.”
The departing defender also recognised the 2022 Club World Cup, his goal in the win over Tottenham Hotspur in the 2021-22 season and his return to face old side AC Milan in October 2022.
What comes next for Thiago Silva?
Before departing for Fluminense, Silva should feature in Chelsea’s final game of 23-24 against Bournemouth on May 19, keen to exit on a winning note.
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