Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has namechecked Chelsea’s Thiago Silva when discussing his own player Jonny Evans.
Rival Premier League boss Rodgers has been discussing Leicester’s 34-year-old centre-back Evans.
He’s even used Chelsea’s colossus 37-year-old centre-half as the perfect example of someone who can still perform at the highest level at an older age.
“I look at Thiago Silva at 37, what a player, so who’s to say Jonny can’t do that if he’s still got that hunger and determination?” Rodgers said.
“He’s at that level of mentality, top-level thinking, but it’s just trying to manage it.”
For certain, Silva is a player that will inspire others across the entire Premier League.
The veteran centre-back is still performing like one of the very best defenders in Europe, proving that intelligence and experience can beat raw youthful speed.
His arrival on a free transfer in August 2020 has been one of the club’s best pieces of business in recent memory.
It’s great to see the £105,000-a-week Brazilian has another year on his contract, too.
Vital at Chelsea next season
The futures of some Blues defenders remain up in the air, especially as the current Stamford Bridge sanctions ban negotiating new contracts.
Andreas Christensen may have reportedly agreed to join Barcelona already. Also, Spanish side Barcelona have reportedly held positive talks with Antonio Rudiger about the possibility of signing him.
It means the role Silva plays at the back could become even more important, both on and off the pitch.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is careful at times with his work load, but you just have to admire how well he looks after his body.
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