Football News

A picture speaks a thousand words, or so they say. The one of Thiago Silva looking distraught at full-time of Chelsea's 1-0 FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Saturday certainly did.

After 707 professional club appearances, another 121 for Brazil at senior level, 33 trophies, and a career spanning more than two decades, this defeat in the 708th looked as important as any. Not even the might of someone as great as Silva could end the Wembley curse for Chelsea. Not even the will of a player that has done it all could carry them through.

In his four years at the club, the 39-year-old veteran has made six appearances at the stadium — four in finals — only winning two of those. It is the record in finals that has hurt him most with Chelsea being defeated in the last six they have played at the national stadium without scoring. His two wins were semi-finals and for a stand-in captain for much of that, he never got to lift a trophy in the royal box.

Despite competing in numerous big games for the Blues, his major trophy haul will be limited to the Champions League and some largely second-rate Super Cups from 2021. Not a bad achievement, but not what it could have been either.

Silva was unable to play in the Carabao Cup capitulation against Liverpool due to injury in February — and how they needed a pinch of his nous — and now, with his time at Stamford Bridge expected to come to an end this summer, his chances of appearing there again appear slim. He made no attempt to hide his dismay and emotion with this on Saturday.

He was seen crying on the pitch with his shirt pulled over his face. In one particular video Noni Madueke is visibly laughing during a chat with Jack Grealish in the background. Quite the contrast. Quite

Thiago Silva Trevoh Chalobah