I'm not a spy – Thiago Silva imparts Chelsea knowledge to Fluminense coaches
Yet while the 40-year-old returned to his homeland to round off his career, he retained close links with the Blues, primarily because his sons Iago and Isago remained in London as players at Chelsea's academy.
Next up for Thiago Silva… 👀#FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/Mgqgd4gFz0
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 7, 2025
He is also still close to a number of the first-team squad and has dropped in on training at Cobham on occasions over the past year.
That puts him in a unique position ahead of Tuesday's encounter between his current club and his old one in New York but he has been coy about the potential significance of his knowledge.
Thiago said: 'No, I'm not a spy. I don't know (coach Enzo) Maresca that well, but I do know a lot of players there.
'I talk to them practically every week. Some of them are very close to me.
'The expectations are high and the anxiety is high about facing them in a World Club Cup semi-final, so I'm trying to help the coaching staff with some interesting details – but they are things that will stay between us.
'I was in London a little while ago to see my kids, so I went to training. Of course I can't give too much away but we've prepared for this match. I think that's the most important thing.
'But whoever is on the other side, I think Fluminense have a special crowd, a special aura. I hope that can work tomorrow too.'
Thiago is looking forward to what will be a special occasion but insists there will be no room for sentiment once the game at the MetLife Stadium gets under way.
Fluminense, who narrowly avoided relegation in Brazil last year, have been one of the surprise packages at the tournament and, after shock wins over Inter Milan and Al-Hilal, Thiago wants the run to continue.
He said: 'I am grateful for everything I have been through. Chelsea were a very special team in my life. I won one of the biggest titles of my career there.
This is what the game is about.
Fluminense look to continue celebrating tomorrow v Chelsea. #CelebrationofTheMatch@Budweiser | @budfootball | @BudweiserUK pic.twitter.com/p2MMWib0fG
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 7, 2025
'I'm happy about this match. It's going to be a special day for me, but it will be even more special if we win.
'I don't think even the most hopeful fan could have imagined that we could be where we are today, in a Club World Cup semi-final, but we got here on merit, with hard work.
'We will try to be very focused for tomorrow's game to try to advance to the final.'
Fluminense coach Renato Portaluppi has no doubt about the importance of Thiago.
'Thiago is a monster on the pitch,' he said. 'He is a major World Cup player and has helped us a lot.
'He is essentially a coach on the pitch and he knows European football and Chelsea really well. His experience has been critical.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
'Devastated' Hibs players exit Europe with 'heads held high' despite loss
'We can't let it linger' - defender on need for quick turnaround ahead of Scottish Premiership kick-off Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hibs players were left 'devastated' by the agonising nature of their Europa League exit in dramatic extra time scenes at Easter Road. But David Gray's men have been urged to build on the credit and kudos they earned in a battling 3-2 aggregate loss to mighty Midtjylland. Third in the Scottish Premiership last season, Hibs head to Dens Park on Sunday to kick off the new domestic campaign against Steven Pressley's Dundee. Partizan in Belgrade next week? There's no doubt that Hibs feel the experience gained against Midtjylland will help when they travel to one of the most intimidating cities in European football. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But right now they're licking wounds, icing knocks, lining up for recuperative massages on weary limbs. And, yes, allowing themselves just a little time to wonder what might have been. 'Devastated is probably the word for it,' said central defender Warren O'Hora, the Irishman – outstanding in last night's 2-1 loss, both with and without the ball – adding: 'We gave it our all over two legs. 'The goals that they scored over two legs are of very, very high quality. A free-kick, a 20-yard strike and an overhead kick, which is very, very hard to take, considering that they played in the Champions League recently. 'Did they cut us open much? Did they have chances? Not as much. It didn't really feel like it on the pitch. I felt like we had chances as well, but to lose a game with two goals like that is a very hard one to take. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dens Park challenge up next 'Of course, we'll definitely look at things we could have done better. I'm not saying we'll just go away from the game, we'll definitely look at things where we can improve, because that's what we've been doing through the whole start. 'Since I've come to the club, that's the way it works. After every performance, we look at what we can do better, what we did well. So we'll definitely do that, and then it'll be very quickly turning around to Dundee, I'd imagine. 'But we can't let it linger. The changing room we have, us boys won't let anybody feel sorry for themselves or anything like that. Because it's in the past now, we can't control it.' Within the first team dressing room at East Mains, where players gathered today for a recovery session, there is an understanding that Europe – an adventure still not an end, despite dropping into the Europa Conference League third qualifying round – is the reward for last season's efforts in the league. And that, if they want to be regulars in UEFA competition, they'll need to do it via the domestic platform. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad O'Hora, looking ahead to the challenge at Dens, said: 'Exactly, exactly that. We still have another opportunity next week, but at the end of this season, you want to be able to do something here in Europe again. 'That is obviously a goal that we'll set, no doubt about it. But we need to start taking it game by game, and we'll start this Sunday. 'The league starts on Sunday, so we regroup right now. We can come out of the two legs with our heads held high. 'We went toe-to-toe for 200-odd minutes with a team at a very, very high level. I don't think we have anything to be ashamed of. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We have a lot of positives to take into Sunday. It's definitely going to be a tough game. It's the first game of the season; we want to start well. 'We have no time to let our heads hang. We'll come in, we'll recover, and we'll go through everything.' Europa Conference League new target Insisting that Hibs will definitely have learned from their efforts against Midtjylland, O'Hora named just a couple of plus points from the two legs against a team with an impressive European pedigree, the former MK Dons player saying: 'Discipline, work-rate. I think we always knew that we'd probably have to give up some possession, that they'd get into areas. 'We can play against that level, we believed. I think the second leg performance showed that we can play against opposition at this level. Unluckily we were punished by high quality goals, like I said earlier. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's positive things in the game. Obviously we won't accept losing, I don't want to put that across, it's very disheartening. But there is a lot of positives in that game, I'm sure that the gaffer and the staff will pick out. 'Away to Midtjylland, it was my debut in European football. You can only benefit from it, definitely. 'It's an experience, it's definitely a different experience. You travel to different countries, a different atmosphere, different style of play, different players. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's something that you need to adapt to quickly, and I think we did over these last two legs. But like I said, we have Sunday coming up first, and that's where our focus will be.' Hibs had chances to pull off a real shock last night. Counter-attacking opportunities where the wrong decision was made – or the ball simply wouldn't bounce in the right direction. The sort of thing that always makes a difference, the higher up the footballing ladder you go. Easter Road bedlam is 'why we play football' - Hibs ace Yet there were also positives to take from the experience. Not least the sheer bedlam generated by Rocky Bushiri's equaliser in extra time. 'Yes, that's why you play football, isn't it?' said O'Hora, forcing a smile. 'It's for moments like that. It's so nice. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Rocky scored so many important goals for us last year, and he's just scored another one for us this year. That's a credit to him. He's a real goal threat in the box. 'But you can see the reaction from the fans, singing his name. You see everybody celebrating, the whole bench celebrates. 'There's boys that didn't play, didn't start, didn't come on, whatever. But it's all forgotten about, that's how together this group has been since we've first come in. We're going to need that tenfold for the whole season. 'The backing we got against Midtjylland was amazing. The fans stood by us, it was absolutely jumping. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The atmosphere, as soon as you walked out, it was just electric. Even when they did score the first goal, the crowd didn't let us get our heads down, they stayed behind us from the very off - and we're going to need that week in, week out this season.'
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Chelsea handed major Xavi Simons transfer boost as in-demand star REMOVES RB Leipzig from his social media
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHELSEA target Xavi Simons has removed all mention of RB Leipzig from his social media bio. Simons, 22, is wanted by the Blues and a verbal agreement is reportedly close to being struck. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Xavi Simons has deleted mention of RB Leipzig from his social media page Credit: AFP Play Dream Team now! Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season Free to play Over £100,000 in total prize money Play in Mini Leagues against your mates Submit a team for Gameweek 1 to enter £5,000 prize draw Play via Dream Team's app or website today! The German club are demanding a fee of £60million and Chelsea are readying their first official bid. Amid the rumours, attacking midfielder Simons has deleted the fact he is an RB Leipzig player from his social media bio. It now only says he is an ambassador for charity Unicef and is sponsored by Puma. Posts of him wearing an RB Leipzig kit have not been taken down. Eagle-eyed fans have also spotted in recent days that he has begun following several Chelsea stars on Instagram like Liam Delap, Levi Colwill and Romeo Lavia. Fans reckon it is all a sign of him moving to Stamford Bridge before the window slams shut. One supporter said: "It's happening." BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Another added: "Here we go confirmed." A third commented: "It suggests he's either come to an agreement on personal terms or is basically there." Chelsea launch bid for £52m Ajax teen sensation Jorrel Hato | Transfers Exposed However, it has been reported that Chelsea need to get players off the books before they can complete the deal for Simons. Christopher Nkunku, Armando Broja, Tyrique George and Carney Chukwuemeka have all been offered as makeweights to the Bundesliga club. But RB Leipzig do not want any of their stars and would prefer a straight-up £60m fee. Simons is said to be working with agent Ali Barat, who has close ties to Chelsea.
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Joe Rothwell knows Rangers have a target on their backs as he plans to put on a show for those taking aim
Russell Martin starts life in the Scottish Premiership away to Motherwell on Saturday and Rothwell wants to make a statement Joe Rothwell says everyone wants to beat Russell Martin's new-look Rangers - but insists they're ready to get off to a Premiership flyer against Motherwell. The Ibrox midfielder has already helped the club navigate a difficult C hampions League qualifying tie against Panathinaikos. And now he's gearing up for their league opener at Fir Park on Saturday night. Rothwell expects it to be frantic in Lanarkshire with The Steelmen out to spoil Gers' Premiership start. But the 30-year-old - who arrived from Bournemouth this summer - is adamant that Martin's men can compete with Celtic for the title. Rothwell said: 'The need for a fast start in the league doesn't have to be emphasised to us. 'As players, we know it's massive. We want to get off to a winning start and we're ready to go. 'It's going to be fast and erratic at the start of the game but it's down to us to take control and build momentum as quickly as we can. 'Everyone is going to want to beat us so we want to put on a show. 'It's a result-based business and we're going there on Saturday to win. 'Ultimately, winning the title is what everyone wants to do. But we can't get ahead of ourselves. 'Winning breeds confidence so Saturday is huge for us. Hopefully we can go there and get the three points.' Rothwell admits it's been a shock to the system, coming to Ibrox from English football. There was huge pressure on the Panathinaikos tie, with Rangers now facing Czech outfit Viktoria Plzen as they attempt to reach the Champions League group phase. But Rothwell says that's why he joined the club. He said: 'We're trying to implement a new style here and we're doing it with less training because there are so many games. 'So to come through the European tie and get the result we wanted was massive. 'It's a bit strange playing European games before the actual season has started. 'But it has given us a chance to put things we've worked on into practice. 'I said when I arrived that European football was a massive pull for me and we've now given ourselves a chance to get to the Champions League, which is what we want. 'We're guaranteed group stage football now which is great for us.' Rothwell is used to playing for a big club having helped Leeds United win the Championship in England last term. He's loved playing in front of the Rangers support so far and hopes his experience of winning at Elland Road can help him at Ibrox. He said: 'The fans are going to be key for us all season. We could hear them up in the stands in Athens the other night. 'It's another away game on Saturday so I'm sure they'll be loud there too. 'Both Rangers and Leeds are massive clubs but obviously playing European games here is different to being in the Championship. 'Last season was a great experience for me and it was part of the manager's reasoning for getting me here.'
