Monday brought the good news that Thiago Silva had extended his contract at Chelsea by a year, and on Tuesday Thomas Tuchel explained why the defender continues to thrive at such a high level.
The 37-year-old remains a key cog in our backline, as he was under Tuchel at PSG where the pair previously worked together. That relationship will now blossom into the 2022/23 campaign following yesterday’s announcement, and at his press conference this afternoon Tuchel started by drawing a comparison when asked about Thiago Silva’s longevity.
‘He’s like Benjamin Button. Thiago Button the footballer!’ joked the boss.
‘But I know how much work and professional attitude is behind that. It is a miracle in a way, because he came to this league, with the schedule and the approach and the intensity on a daily basis at the very end of his career, which was very brave.
‘I know how much effort he puts in to stay fit, and how much effort he puts in off the pitch at home taking care of his recovery, his sleep and his nutrition. It is simply outstanding and only because of that it’s possible.
‘We are happy because the new contract makes him calm,’ added Tuchel of the Brazilian’s influence.
‘Thiago needs to be calm because he is a sensitive and emotional person. That makes him so precious for our team and our dressing room. He can feel different states of emotions from others, and can help so much with this.
‘So he is calm, he has huge targets and he has a big impact. He is available and when he plays, he plays strong and is a big help. Good for him, good for us.’