Chelsea Players Must Set Ego Aside For Success Next Season – Says Thiago Silva

Ahead of his final match at Stamford Bridge after four years with the Premier League club, departing defender Thiago Silva emphasized the importance of Chelsea players prioritizing teamwork over personal ambitions to achieve success next season.

The Brazil international, Thiago Silva, who will be returning to his hometown club Fluminense in the upcoming season, has urged the Chelsea squad to ensure their efforts are meaningful, emphasizing that the club’s current season results have not met their high standards.

Chelsea, sit sixth place, underperformed this season despite spending over 400 million pounds ($508 million) to bring in 13 new players last year.

“I hope (the players) understand that everything they did to get to Chelsea has to be worth it,” Silva told Sky Sports. “Because the season we’re having is not worthy of Chelsea. I think they need to do more next year. These boys need to be aware that Chelsea has to fight for (trophies) in the top positions. If we take a little of our ego and put it in favor of the team, I think it will work. If we don’t do that, the situation will hardly change, unfortunately.”

Injuries and the inconsistency of a young team have been cited as reasons for the twice Champions League winners’ struggle in the middle of the table. However, manager Mauricio Pochettino’s high-spending squad has displayed promise in recent weeks, rapidly ascending the standings.

Pochettino’s side host Bournemouth in Sunday’s final day game of the season, on the back of four consecutive wins, having lost one league match in their last 14.

Chelsea currently have a three-point lead over Newcastle United, who are in seventh place. A victory on Sunday, coupled with a loss for fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur against Sheffield United, could see Chelsea finish in fifth place.