...By Enitan Thompson for TDPel Media.
Thiago Silva, Chelsea’s defensive talisman, has recommended that the solutions to the club’s current issues should come from outside the transfer market.
Silva made this comment in response to the bloated squad of the Blues, which has contributed to the team’s struggles.
He expressed concern about the state of the club following their exit from the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.
The team has gone from being the champions of Europe in 2021 to currently sitting in 11th place in the Premier League.
Thiago Silva’s Criticism
Silva criticized the club’s recent £4.25 billion takeover by American businessman Todd Boehly, who has been more than willing to spend hundreds of millions of pounds on new players.
He suggested that there are deeper issues at play, as Chelsea has already fired managers Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.
Interim boss Frank Lampard has been reinstated following their 2-0 loss to Real (4-0 on aggregate) in the Champions League.
Silva emphasized that it is a hard period for the club, with a lot of indecision, change of ownership, and new players arriving.
The club had to increase the size of the changing room to fit the squad, which includes amazing players but also unhappy ones.
Silva suggested that the manager can only pick 11 players from a pool of 30, which is tough.
He also pointed out that the club signed eight new players in January and that a strategy is needed to avoid making the same mistakes in the future.
Chelsea’s Record-Breaking Transfer Spending
Chelsea broke the Premier League transfer record when they signed Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in a £107 million deal.
Mykhailo Mudryk and Wesley Fofana cost the club an additional £70 million and £62 million, respectively.
This is in addition to another £230 million of squad investments in the 11 months since Boehly’s arrival.
However, Silva emphasized that more substance is required behind all the spending.
Commentary
Silva’s comments highlight the challenges that can arise from excessive spending in the transfer market.
While a club may be able to acquire top talent through expensive signings, this does not necessarily translate to success on the field.
In Chelsea’s case, the bloated squad has contributed to a lack of cohesion and poor performance.
Silva’s call for a change in strategy beyond the transfer market underscores the importance of building a strong team culture and developing a clear vision for the club’s future.
Only then can a team achieve sustained success.
