Brazilian center-back Thiago Silva, who spent formative years of his career in the Rossoneri colors, has spoken out on his side’s crucial UEFA Champions League group stage encounter against Milan at the San Siro. Chelsea dismantled the Italian champions 3-0 last week at the Stamford Bridge, and with both sides stuck at four points each – a point behind group leaders RB Salzburg – the fourth matchday comes along equally significant.
Milan are winless in five meetings against Chelsea in Europe, and few are as familiar with how difficult San Siro can be as Scudetto winner. Back in the press room at his former home, Silva shared his thoughts (via MilanNews) on the much-anticipated continental clash between the two giants.
“I am very happy and excited to be here after 11-12 years: everything I have been through in this great club comes to mind. Tomorrow I will try to be mentally strong,” he said.
He also pinpointed three players Chelsea will need to be wary of in order to muster a positive result.
“It will be a difficult game and it will not be easy to defend. Great players don’t miss two games in a row. We have to be careful with Leao but also with the players who give him the ball and those he serves, like Giroud in the box. With Theo, Milan benefit a lot: he is one of the wingbacks in the world at the moment. He has an important place, he attacks and defends well.”
The former PSG defender then praised Italian football, stressing on the importance of his visit back to San Siro.
“The best school football for a defender is Italy, I always say that. I’m extremely excited, my wife will surely cry. I hope that in the end we can laugh together at what we have experienced and to be able to win.”
He didn’t shy away from mentioning a possible return back to the Rossoneri.
“My passage here has already been and my story has already been created. If there was a possibility, it was before Chelsea. I don’t know about the future, I still have many years to play. But in the future, as a coach maybe.”
Having ended a run of six consecutive UCL home matches without victory (D3, L3) last time around on matchday two, beating Dinamo Zagreb at San Siro, Milan could win consecutive home matches in a single season in the competition for the first time since 2011/12.