Rennes midfielder Ludovic Blas has named Chelsea defender Thiago Silva as his toughest opponent.
Ludovic Blas came up against Thiago Silva during the Brazilian’s time at Paris Saint-Germain and the Frenchman recently spoke to Ligue 1’s official website about how difficult it was to get past him.
Silva took his defensive solidity with him when he joined Chelsea back in 2020, playing a key role in their Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup triumphs.
The 39-year-old was named Player of the Tournament when the Blues won the latter in 2022.
Ludovic Blas on Thiago Silva
Asked about the toughest opponent he has ever faced, Blas said: “The defender who impressed me the most was Thiago Silva. He’s incredible, so strong… he’s a world-class player.
“When I played against him, he managed to take me exactly where he wanted. I tried to be unpredictable in our duels but he was really impressive.”
Thiago Silva a tough opponent
Silva is one of the best defenders in the world and has been for a while.
He is so complete and even at 39, the Brazil international has something to offer. Has he been at his best this season? Perhaps not, but that has not stopped Mauricio Pochettino from starting him in all seven of Chelsea’s Premier League games so far.
According to WhoScored, Silva is making 5.4 clearances per league game in the current campaign, more than any other Chelsea player bar Marc Cucurella, who has only featured in one top-flight match.
Silva is the kind of defender who reads danger and gets rid of it, something he has to do more often these days now that he does not possess the pace he used to have.
Because of his age, some Chelsea supporters may feel that this should be the former PSG captain’s last season at Stamford Bridge. But given how young and inexperienced their squad already is, it would be foolish to let him go, unless his legs completely go by the end of the campaign.
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