Guardiola made me join Chelsea — Thiago Silva reveals

Chelsea defender, Thiago Silva has revealed how Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola influenced his decision and played a vital role in him making the move to Stamford Bridge.

In an interview with ESPN, as quoted by Metro, Silva expressed his surprise at finding himself in England’s top flight, confessing that he had previously held reservations about the style of play in the Premier League, citing concerns about the emphasis on aerial duels and physicality.

Silva stated, “No man, no. I never imagined I would play in the Premier League one day. It was one, with all due respect, football that I didn’t like.”

However, Silva acknowledged Guardiola’s transformative influence on the English game, crediting the City manager for altering his perception.

He emphasized Guardiola’s commitment to a more possession-oriented and attractive style of football as a catalyst for his interest in experiencing the Premier League firsthand.

The Brazilian defender remarked,

“I think one of those responsible for this change, I think, is Pep Guardiola, right? He plays more. The others don’t try to copy but they look to play more because this is beautiful football to watch.”

Silva admitted that Guardiola’s approach to the game intrigued him, prompting him to closely observe matches in England.

The proposal from Chelsea then presented Silva the opportunity to play in the Premier League.

“Chelsea’s proposal came and I didn’t think twice,” Silva added, indicating that the allure of participating in a league undergoing a stylistic shift under the influence of Guardiola’s football philosophy was a decisive factor in his move to Stamford Bridge.