Thiago Silva knows he has time on his side despite reaching the age of 38. He still remains not only one of Chelsea's but Europe's best defenders, standing out in the most challenging environments.
His incredible longevity was symbolically reflected in the two games against the club where he began to carve his legacy in Europe. In the first at Stamford Bridge he consistently stepped up and stifled the sporadic attacking intentions of AC Milan with comfort, most emphatically tackling Rafael Leao, which set a commanding tone.
Although the second game at the San Siro was shaped by Fikayo Tomori's dismissal in the opening 20 minutes and Chelsea's general control, Silva still made a defining interception from a Sandro Tonali cross in the second half, a moment that could have sparked life into a disheartened Milan side.
