THIAGO SILVA has criticised the strategy of Chelsea owner Todd Boehly following their Champions League exit.
The Blues suffered another 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening as they went down 4-0 on aggregate in their quarter-final tie.
It effectively brings an end to Chelsea’s hopes of achieving anything this season as they sit 11th in the Premier League table, 10 points adrift of a European place with just seven games remaining.
The turmoil on the pitch comes after a £600million spending spree across last summer and January.
Boehly, who only arrived last year, has already sacked managers Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, appointing Frank Lampard until the end of the campaign, only for the Chelsea legend to lose his first four games in charge.
And Silva has lamented the chaos that has ensued at Stamford Bridge over the past 12 months.
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Speaking to TNT Sports Brazil, he said: “I think the first step has been made, an incorrect step, but it has been made.
“We can’t be blaming the managers if we don’t take responsibility. It’s a hard period for the club, with a lot of indecision.
“Change of ownership, new players arriving – we had to increase the size of the changing room because it didn’t fit the size of the squad.
“A positive point is that there are amazing players in the squad but on the other hand there are always players that are going to be unhappy.
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“There is always going to be someone upset because not everyone can play. The manager can only pick 11 from a squad of 30-something – that’s tough.
“Some can’t make the squad, we signed eight in January, we need to stop and put a strategy in place otherwise next season we could make the same mistakes.”
Silva was also quick to stress a new manager may not have the required impact.
He added: “Everybody talks too much about replacing managers. I think we, as players, must also take responsibility.
“We have had three managers this season, plus a fourth with Bruno where we failed to win. We have lost today and with Lampard, we have failed to win.
“Everybody is talking about the manager but we must look at what has been done wrong and try to change.”
Silva’s Chelsea contract runs until 2024 and he is expected to stay at the club next season.
But with the Blues set to fail to qualify for the Champions League, the South American has admitted the Real Madrid defeat could have been his final game in the competition.
He said: “It might have been my last match in the Champions League.
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“I have only one year left on my contract and my career is reaching the end. It’s a very sad day.
“But I think we must continue working to try to win as many matches until the end of the season.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
