Why didn’t Thiago Silva get the Chelsea captain’s armband in James’ absence?
Chelsea players are baffled that Thiago Silva was not chosen as captain in light of Reece James and Ben Chilwell’s injury absence, and reports indicate that the players are talking in the dressing room that this is a disrespect to the veteran Brazilian defender.
Chelsea is still providing all the necessary support to the Argentine coach, Mauricio Pochettino, despite the team’s faltering and disappointing start this season, but many questions have been raised about the team’s captaincy in light of the absence of the first two players in the captaincy standings. Reece James has been sidelined for a long period since taking the captaincy last summer – and is likely to be out for another long period due to a new hamstring injury – and Chilwell, the team’s second captain, has not played a game since suffering a hamstring injury in September. the past.
Initial expectations during the summer were that Pochettino would make Silva captain of the team, especially since the Brazilian centre-back, who is 39 years old, is considered the most experienced player in the team, which includes a large number of young players. Silva remains a key player, but Chelsea are looking to the future, thus making James their captain. The move was seen as a major sign of confidence in Chelsea’s youth-led project, and there was no sign of Silva objecting to it. “I and the club made this decision,” Pochettino said at the time.
Injuries forced Pochettino to look for other players to carry the captaincy. Connor Gallagher, the 23-year-old midfielder, wore the captaincy in the absence of James and Chilwell, but a new leader had to be searched for when the England international was sent off in front of the club. Brighton this month.
Gallagher’s absence due to suspension led to Pochettino giving the captaincy to 20-year-old defender Levi Colwell, during the match that Chelsea lost by two goals to one against Manchester United last week. It is noteworthy that this is Colwell’s first season with Chelsea, and this is the first time he has held the captaincy. Silva was also in the team’s starting lineup against Manchester United.
Pochettino insisted that there was no problem in ignoring Silva, pointing out that a player of the Brazilian star’s stature does not need a badge to be a captain. However, some of Silva’s teammates cannot understand why the most experienced player in the team should not be given the captaincy when the main captain is absent.
Now, there is talk of “disrespect” for Silva, whose contract expires at the end of the current season, and a feeling of dissatisfaction with the situation that some players feel reflects the club’s lack of a clear vision. Chelsea, which occupies twelfth place in the English Premier League table, is achieving poor results this season, and Pochettino accused his team of weakness in the wake of the loss to Newcastle last month.
Silva with captain James as he was waiting for the badge in light of the latter’s injury (EBA)
Meanwhile, there are those who suggest that Pochettino is doing the right thing by looking to the future and giving young players a chance, especially since Silva may not be at Chelsea next season. Chelsea did not sign a player over the age of 25 last summer, and Silva did not feature in the team’s defeat to Everton last weekend. The veteran player, who has become a fan favorite since his move to Stamford Bridge in 2020, criticized the club’s owners – American Todd Buhle and the Clearlake Capital Group – for signing too many players last season.
The hamstring injury that James suffered is expected to keep him out of action for approximately three months, which means that he will most likely not be part of the England national team squad for the Euro 2024 finals. The right-back, who suffered seven injuries in… Hamstring tendons within three years, to a specialist to determine the severity of the problem, and to find out whether he should undergo surgery or not.
Surgery would delay James’ return to action, but there is a feeling that it would be better for him in the long run. James was sidelined for two months after suffering a hamstring injury last August, and it did not take long for him to suffer the same injury again. The 24-year-old, who played six matches this season, limped off the field during his team’s match against Everton.
England national team coach, Gareth Southgate, will take a list of 23 players to Germany next summer to participate in the European Nations, and he indicated that fitness will play a pivotal role in his choices, so it is likely that Southgate will have doubts about the possibility of relying on James, who… He missed last year’s World Cup due to a knee injury.
James missed the last camp for the England national team after he decided to stay at Chelsea to work on his recovery from injury at a time when Southgate wanted to select him and said that the right-handed defender was risking his place on the list by not joining the international squad. Southgate already has plenty of good options at right-back, and is expected to rely on Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold in that position.
James has not shown his strong physical level since his return from injury last October, and he received a red card against Newcastle last month. Chelsea greatly missed his great attacking capabilities on the right flank. The team suffers from the absence of a large number of players due to injury, which became worse with the departure of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and left back Mark Cucurella, injured, against Everton. Furthermore, two of the club’s big-money signings last summer, Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lafia, have yet to play a minute.
Chelsea succeeded in defeating Sheffield United on Saturday despite suffering from a large number of injuries, and the coming days, until the beginning of the new year, will be a test of the squad’s ability to withstand in light of the large number of matches and the pressure of the schedule during the holiday period.
*The Guardian service
2023-12-17 19:44:42
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