Thiago Silva, the veteran Brazilian defender, is set to face his former club Chelsea in the Club World Cup semi-finals, but he jokingly denies being a spy. The 40-year-old, who now plays for Fluminense, spent four successful years at Stamford Bridge, during which he won the Champions League. Despite returning to his native Brazil last summer, Silva has maintained close ties with Chelsea, as his sons Iago and Isago are part of the Chelsea academy. He has also visited Cobham, Chelsea's training ground, on several occasions in the past year and remains in contact with many of the first-team players.
Silva acknowledges the unique position he is in, possessing valuable insights into the Chelsea squad. He has been sharing "interesting details" with the Fluminense coaching staff, but he is keeping the specifics private. "No, I'm not a spy," Silva said. "I don't know (coach Enzo) Maresca that well, but I do know a lot of players there. I talk to them practically every week. Some of them are very close to me".
Silva fondly remembers his time at Chelsea and is anticipating the special occasion of facing them. He insists that sentimentality will be set aside once the match begins at MetLife Stadium. "The expectations are high and the anxiety is high about facing them in a World Club Cup semi-final, so I'm trying to help the coaching staff with some interesting details – but they are things that will stay between us," he stated.
Marc Cucurella, the Chelsea defender, has hailed Silva as a "legend of football". He revealed that he and Silva exchanged text messages leading up to the semi-final clash. Cucurella is looking forward to competing against his former teammate. "We've watched some of their games. They have very good players, they are very determined and they have Thiago Silva," Cucurella said. "He's a legend of football, a top player. He's only played for big clubs and texted me before the [quarter-final] game saying, 'Let's go, hopefully we can see you in a couple of days'," he added.
Silva's return to Fluminense has been impactful. He helped the team avoid relegation last season, and they have now reached the Club World Cup semi-finals. Their journey to the semi-finals included holding Borussia Dortmund in the group stage, defeating Inter Milan in the last 16, and overcoming Al Hilal in the quarter-finals.
Chelsea, with their young squad, are aiming for a spot in the Club World Cup final. Maresca acknowledges the challenge posed by Fluminense, noting their organization and talented players. He is also wary of the experienced players in the Fluminense squad, including 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio, 35-year-old wing-back Samuel Xavier, and 37-year-old forward German Cano.
The match between Chelsea and Fluminense promises to be an intriguing encounter, with Silva's knowledge of his former team adding an extra layer of complexity. His experience and leadership will be crucial for Fluminense as they aim to upset the Premier League giants.
