Thiago Silva has only started two games this season for Chelsea, both of them the last two Premier League outings, but you wouldn’t know it after his outstanding display in the Blues’ 3-0 win over Spurs on Sunday.
When there was chaos around him, especially in the first half as Spurs were “brave and aggressive” in the words of Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel, one man stood out with a calm head above everyone else and that was the Brazilian veteran.
With Reece James back on the bench and Cesar Azpilicueta positioned at wing-back, Silva returned to the heart of the Blues backline having had a midweek rest for the win against Zenit, only playing the final seven minutes to see the 1-0 win out.
Spurs were pressing Chelsea high, winning the ball back in their half and getting plenty of bodies forward as Nuno Espirito Santo threw out a very attacking lineup that included Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Dele Alli, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovanni Lo Celso.
For 45 minutes, it worked well for Spurs as they were cheered off the pitch at 0-0 when the half time whistle blew. That had turned to jeers by the end as Chelsea blitzed their London rivals after the break thanks to goals from N’Golo Kante, Antonio Rudiger and the outstanding Silva.
The Blues centre half turns 37 on Wednesday and should be winding down his career in relative comfort. Yet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he was winning a Premier League game in relative comfort. Harry Kane barely got a sniff
The facts and numbers behind his performance display just that: 47 touches, won five of six duels, all four aerial duels he won, made six clearances, completed 51 of his 60 passes, created one chance, had two shots on goal and they were both on target, one of them being the opening goal of the game.
Silva launched a number of Chelsea attacks as well with raking passes to Marcos Alonso, who himself could have had a hat trick on the day and a hatful of assists, though the Spaniard settled for one when he returned the favour for Silva to head home the opener.
When Silva arrived as a free agent last summer, Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said of his capture: “We are delighted to be able to add a player of Thiago Silva’s proven world-class credentials to our squad.
“Having performed at the highest level for many years, we have no doubt his experience and quality will complement the many exciting talents we already have here.
“Thiago will be an excellent fit and we hope he can add some new trophies to his impressive list of honours.”
He did add a new trophy to his collection, the Champions League crown secured last season. While Silva missed out on the Copa America with Brazil this summer, the only top-level trophy that has eluded him is the World Cup and the Europa League, but you imagine he’ll be fine with missing out on the latter considering he now has a Champions League winners medal in his collection.
For a player who has near enough won it all, and pushing 37 years of age, Silva clearly still has an incessant desire to win. His celebration after heading home the opener in north London was superb and the Blues fans loved it when he kissed the badge.
He won’t play every game, he knows it and Tuchel knows it. He will certainly be given the night off on Wednesday for the Carabao Cup clash with Aston Villa but in what is another certainty, return for the crunch Premier League clash with Man City on Saturday lunchtime.
Tuchel has options at centre half despite selling Kurt Zouma, Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi in the last transfer window. Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger are playing at a very high level, Cesar Azpilicueta is comfortable slotting in as a third centre half, Reece James can do that as well and don’t forget the emergence of Trevoh Chalobah as well this season.
But one thing is clear - Silva still has a huge part to play this season in Chelsea’s Premier League title aspirations. He won’t be a regular, but Tuchel will depend on him at the crunch moments.
