https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/
ac-milan-vs-chelsea-press-conference-thiago-silva-updates-on-his-contract
AC Milan vs Chelsea press conference: Thiago Silva updates on his contract
and describes his emotional return to San Siro
10 Oct 2022
Thiago Silva has discussed potential contract negotiations and his
emotional return to San Siro ahead of Chelsea's Champions League group
stage fixture away at AC Milan.
https://i.imgur.com/DB4CYwr.jpg
The Brazilian defender extended his contract to keep him with the Blues
for the 2022/23 season, but insisted he is not thinking too hard about his
future just yet.
Head coach Graham Potter is clearly a big fan, describing Thiago Silva as
'an incredible person and an incredible player' in his own pre-match press
conference, although the man himself believes there is plenty of time left
before he needs to worry about renewing his deal for another year at
Stamford Bridge.
'It is not the right time to talk about new contracts. For me, what is
important is to continue playing at a high level and achieve the best
results,' he said.
https://i.imgur.com/qZI3eJE.jpg
Thiago Silva heads towards goal in last week's game against AC Milan in
London
'There will come a time when we need to talk, that could be before the
World Cup or after. I have to consider my family arrangements. I will have
to decide what to do as this is an important decision. We will see what
will happen.'
However, the centre-back was much more forthcoming when asked by the
Italian media about his emotions on his return to San Siro, where he spent
three of the most important years of his career and won the Serie A title
in 2011.
Now returning to his former home to face his old club over a decade later,
Thiago Silva admits it will be a big occasion, not just for him but his
family too.
'I'm very happy and excited to be here again 11 years since my last time
and of course all the nice experiences I've had here come back to my mind.
So of course I'm very excited and tomorrow night I will be even more
excited and moved.
'I can tell you that I will have to be mentally strong and focused on the
game because of course there's going to be great emotion.
https://i.imgur.com/icymen8.jpg
Celebrating after scoring for AC Milan against Barcelona
'My wife was very moved when we played against AC Milan in London so for
sure tomorrow night my wife will cry from the emotions, but I hope that in
the end we will be able to laugh together after a good win, that is the
most important thing.'
Thiago Silva also ran the rule over our opponents, expecting a tough game
and being left in no doubt that this tie in Italy will be far tougher
prospect than our 3-0 home win over AC Milan last week.
'I've seen AC Milan playing better and better,' he explained. 'They had a
bad game last week against us, that can happen, but great clubs like AC
Milan won't make a mistake like that twice. You can see the great result
they had against Juventus in their last game.
'So I am sure they are strongly motivated to have another great match
tomorrow. I can tell myself and my team that we need to really work hard,
because it's never going to be easy to play here at San Siro and against
AC Milan.'
The 38-year-old continued by pointing out two areas that will make the
game especially tough for the Blues, picking out former Chelsea defender
Fikayo Tomori, who has impressed him since moving to Italy, and the
strong threat carried by their attack, highlighting Rafael Leao and
Olivier Giroud in particular.
'For sure Tomori because I've met him and played with him for months
before he decided to join Milan. I knew it wouldn't have been easy for him
when you change the country and change the culture. He has actually proven
himself to be very good because he has really consolidated his ability and
skills. I always say that for a defender the best football school you can
have is here in Italy. I'm very happy for him because I see him as a very
developed and grown-up player.
https://i.imgur.com/iH69Z4u.jpg
Former Blues Tomori and Giroud combined to open the scoring for Milan
against Juventus
'The AC Milan attack is very impressive, the way they perform, so tomorrow
is going to be a very difficult match. It is going to be very difficult
for us to defend. We have to be very focused and not let Leao get the
ball. It's not easy if he gets the ball, he can score, but it's not only
him because Giroud is in the box.
'So it's a very challenging attack to play against, it's not going to be.
We need to really be focused. I think Leao is one of the best players in
their side now, but we have to be careful of the whole squad because a
good team is not only one, two or three good players.'