Chelsea supporters pay tribute to exit-bound Thiago Silva after 2-1 win over Bournemouth
Chelsea fans paid their heartfelt tribute to veteran centre-back Thiago Silva as he played his last game for the club on Sunday (May 19) against Bournemouth. The Brazilian, who arrived in 2020, featured in the 2-1 win over the Cherries.
Silva, 39, has played 38 times across competitions this season, contributing four goals and an assist. Four of those goal contribution - three goals and one assist in 31 games - came in the league, where the Blues finished sixth.
Moises Caicedo opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge on Sunday inside 17 minutes before Raheem Sterling made it 2-0 three minutes into the second period. Although a Benoit Badiashile own goal a minute later reduced arrears for the Cherries, an equaliser wasn't to be as Mauricio Pochettino's side held on for their fifth straight league win.
Meanwhile, the win marked a sweet end to a fabulous four-year stint at Stamford Bridge for Silva. Fans acknowledged the same, as per a video shared by Tom Overrend on X:
It was Silva's 28th league start of the season as he ended his Blues career with a win.
How has Thiago Silva fared at Chelsea?
Thiago Silva is one of the most decorated centre-backs in the modern era. Despite arriving at Chelsea when he was in his mid-30s, the veteran Brazilian proved his detractors wrong with a series of impressive performances as he emerged as a true leader at the back.
In four seasons at Stamford Bridge since arriving from PSG on a free transfer in the summer of 2020, Silva appeared in 155 games across competitions for the Blues, contributing nine goals and four assists.
His crowning moment at the Blues would undoubtedly be their UEFA Champions League triumph in 2021, a year after he fell short with PSG against Bayern Munich in the title match.
Besides the European title, the veteran Brazilian also won the UEFA Supercup (2021-22) and FIFA Club World Cup (2022) with Chelsea as he moves to Brazilian side Fluminense next.