Chelsea: Mauricio Pochettino tips Thiago Silva for coaching career and explains reason behind latest squad BBQ

Mauricio Pochettino says Chelsea veteran Thiago Silva can learn what it takes to be a coach by being in a dressing room half his age.

The legendary Brazilian defender turns 40 in September and is beginning to think about his life beyond playing football after starting his UEFA B Licence last month, as Standard Sport first revealed earlier this year.

Silva has also recently hinted he could leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, while his wife Belle sparked controversy urging the need for “change” at Chelsea.

However, Pochettino insists Silva is getting a lot out of one of the few difficult seasons in his illustrious career and can learn about coaching around such a young group.

He said: “No, it is a good experience for him, and the kids also. If he wants to be a coach, he is experiencing a very good time.”

Thiago Silva has been a bit-part player of late (Action Images via Reuters)

Pochettino has also explained why Silva has spent the last few weeks on the Chelsea bench.

“He got injured against Palace, then after when he was available to play, Trevoh Chalobah was performing well,” said the manager.

“That’s it. It was only a decision to play with one or another. I agree with you, we need to respect everyone and he has my respect, 100 per cent.

“Only we need to choose and before it was [Axel] Disasi and Levi [Colwill] – and now he is injured. Even for Levi, if he comes back tomorrow, I could decide to play with Chalobah because he is playing well.

“For me, it is about performing and deserving to play. It is not about the name or experience or because he is a legend or not a legend. Of course, [Silva] is training well now and waiting for his chance to play.”

Silva is one of just three Chelsea players still at the club who featured in the 2021 FA Cup final against Leicester. Chelsea will play the Foxes in a crucial quarter-final on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.

Pochettino admits that such a statistic is a sign of Chelsea’s inexperience and a reason why they failed to win last month’s Carabao Cup final.

“It was [Ben] Chilwell, Thiago… and Reece [James],” he said, guessing the three players, before explaining: “The players have the same process of settling at the club and performing.

“Yes, we are in a process in which, of course, the main group, the main young players … of course, they struggle a little bit to deal with the pressure to play for Chelsea.

“That is the thing we are aware of and are focusing on trying to help them in all areas. Because when you have this young squad, it’s not only to help them in training. We have spent a lot of time talking … talking with the people that work around these guys, who are important, too.”

“It’s home, and we want to create a good feeling among everyone. To get people to fight for the same thing – to win.”

Mauricio Pochettino on his latest club BBQ

Chelsea’s inconsistency has raised the stakes in the domestic cup competitions while they sit 11th in the Premier League table. Solving that problem involves connecting a group of almost entirely new signings and Pochettino has revealed that he threw his third barbecue of the season for players and staff on Friday afternoon.

“The idea is to share among the players, and all the staff are invited, too,” he told reporters ahead of the event. “There are going to be 120 or 130 people. The most important thing is that the players understand what it means to be a Chelsea player, to share with people sometimes what you don’t see from the office, to be all together, and to create a very good atmosphere.

“For sure, we are not going to score goals because we are going to have a barbecue, but of course, it is about communication and feeling better.

“It is not only a training ground where you come to work. It’s home, and we want to create a good feeling among everyone. To get people to fight for the same thing – to win.”

The meal is important for staff with Brentford set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva the latest to join in a series of backroom appointments.

Pochettino clarified what Cueva’s arrival means for a potential set-piece department at Chelsea: “We have an amazing department of analysis and set-piece coaches, two set-piece coaches.

“We already work with set-piece coaches. Of course, the club wants to create a global area of set-pieces to reinforce the already settled area in which two people work.

“Like the medical staff, performance, the club created also a goalkeeper area with Ben Roberts. The club is trying to reinforce all areas. That is one area they want to reinforce, move on from, and challenge the people who are here. And we are very supportive of that.

“If some people come here to add their knowledge, to help us, to be better, they are very welcome.”