Thiago Silva looks for the last challenge … in Qatar

World Cup Qatar goal Thiago Silva

AFP

At the age of thirty-six, Brazilian Thiago Silva set his final goal: to participate in 2022 in his fourth World Cup. The distinguished center-back chose to remain within the competitive circuit by joining Chelsea, a decision that liked the “Siliciao” coach Tite without guaranteeing him any advantage.

Instead of a luxurious retirement in China, participation in the World Cup 2022 tempted the former captain of Paris Saint-Germain, to follow in the footsteps of Frank Lampard, his current coach at Chelsea, who fought his age at the league level, by moving to Manchester City after 13 years spent in the ranks of “blue”.

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Silva said in an interview with Chelsea, “In football, there are a lot of preconceptions about the ages of the players. But I know his (Lampard) experience when he arrived at Manchester City. He endured the same things that I experienced.”

Silva signed with Chelsea for a renewable one-year term, setting his sights on hold until the World Cup in Qatar, although he will be thirty-eight years old in 2022.

He said, “The idea of ​​running for the next World Cup motivates me completely. I want to stay in good shape and Chelsea gives me a great opportunity to continue playing at the highest level.”

Start gag

The national team coach, Tite, endorsed his move, saying he was happy to see him “playing with a big club, in a competitive tournament”. He did not hesitate to call him to the first matches in the South American qualifiers for Qatar 2022, against Bolivia and Peru, on Friday and Tuesday, respectively.

However, the “Siliciao” coach does not intend to present gifts or privileges to the former Italian Milan defender.

He insisted in an interview with “Globo Sport”: “It is important to play at a high level to be ready with the national team. If he went to China, the level would be different. But (at Chelsea) he will be tested, and if he does not do well, things will be complicated for him. “.

But the fatal mistake of the veteran center back in his first match with West London against West Brom (3-3), did not reassure the coach of the five-time world champion. After that, Silva wanted to clarify things, stressing that he had not come to London “to have dinner or to visit tourist sites.”

Contradictory calls

On the other hand, Silva paints a dialectical picture that does not capture a state of consensus.

“He was a great player, there is no question about that,” wrote former midfielder Neto, who works as an analyst for “Bandirantes” on Instagram, after Tite announced his squad.

On the contrary, “As long as there are no other players with similar technical, leadership and professional qualities, he deserves to be called,” national team specialist and TV Globo commentator Alexander Luzetti told AFP.

Among the other features of the player nicknamed “Monstro”, his great understanding with the other pole of defense Marquinhos after he spent six seasons with him with Paris Saint-Germain.

“We know each other well, and we expect what the other will do,” Marquinhos said on Monday at a press conference on the sidelines of the exercises for the national team preparing for the 2022 World Cup.

The competition is not yet strong on the team’s defensive positions. Eder Militao occupies a substitute position at Real Madrid, and Felipe is expected to play important roles with Atletico Madrid. The threat could come from Rodrigo Caio, 27, a talented Flamengo player who lacks international experience.

But Silva, who has 89 international matches, is not the only “old man” in the Brazil squad, as Sao Paulo full back Dani Alves, 39, in 2022, hopes to play the World Cup finals as well.

The last editions of the World Cup witnessed some cases of old players within the defensive framework, such as Colombian Mario Yebes (2014) and Mexican Rafael Marquez (2018), who fought their last World Cup at the age of 38 and 39 years, respectively, and said goodbye to Brazil … and Thiago Silva.