“He feels it” – Lampard explains why Chelsea star has been suffering this season

Frank Lampard has explained why Thiago Silva has been suffering this season after hailing the Chelsea defender’s application and approach.

Silva, who is 38 and turns 39 in September, will embark on his fourth season at Chelsea next season after agreeing a one-year contract extension in February.

He has been an ever-present part of Chelsea since his arrival on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain the summer of 2020, joining during Lampard’s first managerial stint at Stamford Bridge.

The Brazil international has won the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup during his time at Chelsea, whilst also proving to be a leader and mentor to his teammates, in particular the younger ones.

It’s been a difficult 2022/23 campaign for Silva and Chelsea, with the centre-back criticising the owners and offering them advice ahead of the summer on how to avoid a repeat of the dismal season next term.

He told reporters last month: “I think the first step has been made, an incorrect step, but it has been made. We can’t be blaming the managers if we don’t take responsibility. It’s a hard period for the club, with a lot of indecision.

“Change of ownership, new players arriving – we had to increase the size of the changing room because it didn’t fit the size of the squad.

A positive point is that there are amazing players in the squad but on the other hand there are always players that are going to be unhappy. There is always going to be someone upset because not everyone can play. The manager can only pick 11 from a squad of 30-something – that’s tough.

“Some can’t make the squad, we signed eight in January, we need to stop and put a strategy in place otherwise next season we could make the same mistakes.”

Chelsea currently sit in 11th place in the Premier League after ending a run of six defeats in a row to claim a 3-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.

It was a relieving result to slow down the mounting pressure on the team as frustrations grew with just four games now left to play before the season concludes.

Caretaker boss Lampard was full of praise for the 38-year-old down on the south coast and revealed why Silva has been suffering because of the disappointing set of results this season.

“Thiago is a credit in all aspects,” Lampard told the official Chelsea website.

“He’s a classy, brilliant player. His career says it. He’s also brilliant at looking after himself to play at this level. He’s 38. I was in the MLS by that point. Especially as a centre-back, to play in the Premier League, what he must be doing with his body.

“He’s also got a great mind and he’s got a winning mentality, so he would have been suffering a bit recently because he feels it and he wears it and he’s a great reference point for the young centre-backs we’ve got in the team around him. I’ve got nothing but praise for Thiago in all aspects.”