Thiago Silva was warned Chelsea’s owners they need to “stop and put a strategy in place” or else the club “could make the same mistakes” next season
Thiago Silva admitted Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid could be his last Champions League appearance (Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Veteran Chelsea defender Thiago Silva has criticised decisions made by the club’s owners this season after they were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid.
The Blues were beaten 4-0 on aggregate as Madrid advanced to the semi-finals, with interim boss Frank Lampard losing his fourth consecutive game since returning as manager. And with just seven games left this season, Chelsea are languishing 11th in the Premier League table as they continue their search for a more permanent successor to Graham Potter.
Silva, who extended his stay at Stamford Bridge for another year in February, was critical of the owners’ “indecision” following Chelsea’s Champions League exit. The 38-year-old urged them to “stop and put a strategy in place” or else the club “could make the same mistakes” next season.
“I think the first step has been made,” he said. “An incorrect step, but it has been made. We can’t be blaming the managers if we don’t take responsibility. It’s a hard period for the club, with a lot of indecision.
“Change of ownership, new players arriving – we had to increase the size of the changing room because it didn’t fit the size of the squad. A positive point is that there are amazing players in the squad but on the other hand there are always players that are going to be unhappy.
“There is always going to be someone upset because not everyone can play. The manager can only pick 11 from a squad of 30-something – that’s tough. Some can’t make the squad, we signed eight in January, we need to stop and put a strategy in place otherwise next season we could make the same mistakes.”
Silva also called on the players to take more responsibility for Chelsea’s troubles, pointing out that Lampard is the fourth manager they have played under this season. He added: “Everybody talks too much about replacing managers. I think we, as players, must also take responsibility.
Chelsea co-owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly watched on as their side was dumped out of Europe by Madrid ( Image: Clive Rose/Getty Images)
“We have had three managers this season, plus a fourth with Bruno where we failed to win. We have lost today and with Lampard we have failed to win. Everybody is talking about the manager but we must look at what has been done wrong and try to change.”
The Brazilian went on to admit that the loss to Real Madrid could be his final appearance in the Champions League, given Chelsea’s poor league position. “It might have been my last match in the Champions League,” he said.
“I have only one year left on my contract and my career is reaching the end. It’s a very sad day. But I think we must continue working to try to win as many matches until the end of the season.”
Source: mirror.co.uk
