Chelsea defender Thiago Silva had revealed the secret behind his long football career. Thiago Silva who will be 38 years in September this year has revealed that discipline and a good diet are behind in a long career.
Most footballers, especially defenders at his age are either on retirement or playing in lesser Leagues around the World. The Chelsea defender will be a role model for most young footballers because of his ability to keep his shape and form and still be playing at the highest level in the Premier League.
What did Silva say?
Speaking on the Chelsea matchday program ahead of Chelsea’s final Premier League game against Watford he said: “It’s about discipline, especially at my age. Playing at such a high level requires a lot of discipline, from controlling how you eat to how you recover. It’s all very important. I know it’s been a long season but I feel good, I feel happy for the season that I’ve had.
“I feel happy to be a reference or an inspiration to other people, for the youngsters that are now starting to play, and can look and see how far into their lives they could play – until 38 or 39. I feel happy to be able to be playing at this age and know that it can be an inspiration to others.”
Thiago Silva also believes that Chelsea had a good season despite losing two Cup finals.
Chelsea was third in the Premier League and was eliminated by Champions winner Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
But Silva thinks the Blues had a good season after winning the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super League.
He said: “In general, it was a good season – not excellent.
“We were in the top three and throughout the campaign we had a couple of cup successes and we lost a couple of cup finals. It’s not what we wanted, but it was okay.
“It’s the small details. When you look at it, if we had won those two penalty shoot-outs, it would have been an excellent season instead of a good season because you always remember those who win. Liverpool won the two penalty shoot-outs and it was an excellent season for them.
“If it had been the other way, it would not have been quite so good for them and it would have been a great season for us because we would have been celebrating winning four competitions instead of two. But it’s what people remember – and those small margins are what make the difference that win you competitions.”
Thiago Silva who had the League in all the countries he had played in believes the Premier League is his priority next season after agreeing to stay at Chelsea for another season.
He continued: “You come for one season and you don’t know what’s going to happen because people look at you and maybe have a few doubts because of your age. But I was happy to accept for a second season and now a third – and who knows, maybe even a fourth after that.
“The Premier League is a dream, something that I crave. In all the national leagues I’ve played in before, I’ve won, and the Premier League is no different in my eyes – it’s something I want to win.
“We won the Champions League last season, and now I have the Premier League in mind. That’s not discarding the Champions League, or any other competition in any way, but the Premier League is the one I want to win.
The 37 years also revealed that his family is happy in London and Thanks the Blues fans for their support.
Thiago said: “I’m happy here, my family is happy and that helps a lot because when things go well outside of the pitch, it can only go well on the pitch as well,’ he added. ‘We play well when we feel at home and I feel well in London, I feel at home. Even when I first came and we had no supporters inside the stadium, I felt the love from the fans on social media and that goes a long way.
“It is special, very special when you receive the love of the fans. I was lucky to receive that love from the fans at all the clubs I’ve been to, from Fluminense to Milan and Paris, and nowhere.
“As a professional, you just want to work hard and do your best. As a child, all I wanted to do was play football, and then to be appreciated as you play the game is indescribable. Feeling the love of the fans while you’re on the pitch makes me feel very proud because it seems so simple what we do.
“When you compare it with the work of a doctor, for example, who is there to save lives, and people show appreciation for what they do. Then I’m doing my job, playing football, and receiving appreciation, and it’s difficult to compare that. But I appreciate the love very much and it makes me proud, although it’s hard to describe that feeling – you have to be there in that situation to understand how it feels.”
