Thiago Silva sends rallying cry after taking issue with red card decision
Thiago Silva insisted that he did not deserve to be sent off in Chelsea’s shock defeat to West Brom, but vowed to learn his lesson.
Chelsea suffered their first defeat under Thomas Tuchel to a surprise opponent. West Brom may be in the relegation zone but still found a way to put five past the Blues. Silva’s dismissal, reducing Chelsea to 10 men in the first half, did not help.
Making his return to action after two months out, the experienced defender lasted just 29 minutes. He received two yellow cards which sealed his fate.
His teammates struggled to respond without him, making for a disappointing day all round.
Silva has since pleaded his innocence for the incidents that saw him sent off. But he took responsibility and issued a rallying cry to his fellow squad members.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “Lessons need to be learned from difficult days, so that the next day is the beginning of a new beginning.
“I believe it was not an expulsion move. I haven’t seen the video yet. But the referee made his decision and we can’t change what happened.
“I assume my responsibility for the expulsion, which unfortunately directly affected the result of the game.
“Now we have to join our forces, because Wednesday it will be another battle. Come on Chelsea.”
Thomas Tuchel backs Thiago Silva
Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel says he understands Thiago Silva's feeling that success is only judged on Champions League progress.
Silva has generally been a positive influence for Chelsea since joining on a free transfer from PSG in the summer. His contract expires this summer but there could be a chance for him to extend his stay by a further year.
The decision will have to wait, though, with the attention now turning to Chelsea’s Champions League challenge against FC Porto.
Fellow defender receives criticism
Silva may have let his team down by being sent off, but it was another defender who lasted the whole game who received the brunt of one pundit’s criticism.
According to Owen Hargreaves, Tuchel should be having serious thoughts about how much he uses Kurt Zouma for the rest of the season.
The pundit told Premier League Productions: “Edouard Mendy we didn’t see make saves. He’s made some brilliant saves since he’s come in and he’s barely made one today.
“But I think for Chelsea and for Kurt Zouma, I’m sure that’s going to go well for him after what happened today.
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“First of all, I don’t think he’s the most comfortable with his left foot so playing on the left side of the three puts a lot of pressure on him.
“We saw it for the first goal, he plays a poor ball into Jorginho with the weight of it.
“For Zouma, I’m not sure he’s going to be playing many games going forward after today’s performance.”
READ MORE: Tuchel surprised and baffled by Chelsea’s home humbling by West Brom
