Potter: Thiago Silva’s absence gives opportunity to others
04 MAR 2023
Graham Potter knows Thiago Silva’s absence will be keenly felt over the next few weeks, but he is confident other members of the Chelsea squad can step forward and add more in terms of leadership while the Brazilian is unavailable.
Potter expects Thiago Silva to be out for around six weeks with the knee ligament injury he sustained early on at Tottenham last weekend.
On the pitch the defender, arguably our best player this season, will be hugely missed, and on top of that his experience and knowhow is hard to replace in a squad with a youthful feel to it. Nonetheless, Potter is confident others can step up.
‘You’re always going to miss a player and a person of Thiago Silva’s quality, but at the same time it’s an opportunity for other players,’ Potter noted.
‘Wesley [Fofana] is coming back into the team after a long injury. We’ve missed him. He’s a different type of person to Thiago of course, but he has qualities as well.
‘It’s exciting for people to emerge and develop into a role that is left vacant in terms of what Thiago brings,’ continued Potter.
‘There isn’t another Thiago Silva, so as a group we need to try to find a solution together. That’s what the players have been working towards.
‘We’ve had a good training week, some good feedback, some good honest conversations. I feel the support from the players and the people in the building, and we all want to improve, and that’s exciting.’
Dealing with adversity during a game is one area where there is plenty of room for improvement. We have gone behind in 16 games this season in all competitions, and 13 of those ended in defeat.
Accusations have been levelled at this Chelsea squad that they struggle to cope with the blow of going behind, and Potter has given his thoughts on the matter ahead of the Leeds game today.
‘Sometimes you’re in a moment in a season when you do suffer, that’s clear. When you have had the results we’ve had, it would be strange if there isn’t that effect.
‘It isn’t because they’re not trying. It isn’t because they’re lacking character. It’s because you’re trying to find a way together. This is a team that’s been brought together over a couple of windows. There’s been quite a significant change. It’s hard to get a strong team at this point, and when you go through those moments, that bit isn’t there.
‘That’s where we have to keep working as a team, and having these moments together. Sometimes you gain strength from them, from suffering as a team. As it is we’re not there, and I have to help the players get there.’
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Reece James not available against Leeds United
04 MAR 2023
Reece James is out of today's match with Leeds United due to a tight hamstring.
The defender played the full 90 minutes at Tottenham last weekend and has trained with the Blues throughout the week, however he did miss Friday's session.
Potter ruled him a huge doubt for the match during his press conference on Friday, and has since stated he will definitely not feature this afternoon.
'Reece is feeling a bit of tightness which is sometimes understandable coming back from injury. We have been assessing him this week and feel it is too soon for the game today,' Potter told us.
'There is a strong chance he will be available for Tuesday [against Borussia Dortmund] but this game comes too soon.'
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