How Chelsea can stifle super Silva
DAVID SILVA is Man City’s architect and creator-inchief. Here are four ways Chelsea can try to stop the Spanish playmaker.
PROTECTIVE SHIELD
AGAINST West Brom, Silva played centrally just behind the striker. That is his most dangerous position. He can dribble at the heart of the opposition, pull the defence out of shape or thread passes inside the full backs to release Raheem Sterling and Jesus Navas.
Silva loves to operate just in front of the back four but Jose Mourinho knows how important that area of the pitch is. John Terry and Gary Cahill looked so good last season because they always had protection in front of them. When that shield disappears they can be exposed, particularly with passes over the top. Jose will have to make sure his defenders get plenty of protection.
PACE OR POWER
NEMANJA MATIC is a fine defensive midfielder but he can’t stop the City attack by himself. If Jose wants a likefor-like player watching Silva then he can pick Ramires. The Brazilian played wide on the right in this fixture last year but in a deeper role he can be all over Silva. He has a similar body type — wiry and quick — and by pressing hard and fast he can make life very difficult for Silva.
If Mourinho wants to take a different approach he can pick Kurt Zouma, who is a beast of a player. He is quick, strong and eight inches taller than Silva. He may not be as nimble as Ramires but he can really intimidate with his sheer size and strength.
MAKE THE RIGHT CALL
DEFENDING against Silva you have two choices. You can remain patient, stay on your feet and try to shepherd him away from goal. The trouble is the more he runs with it, the worse it can get. He can take yards out of you or put you on your backside with a piece of skill.
The second option is to win the ball early. You have to be certain you can win it because if not, he will nick it away and you get booked. Either way, you must be on red alert whenever he has the ball. You cannot afford to let a player like Silva have time and space.
WATCH THE SPACE
I DON’T expect Chelsea to man-mark Silva. I sometimes did that in my career — I often man-marked Matthew Le Tissier because if you stopped him, you stopped Southampton. But with that your position in the team is sacrificed solely to defend. Now managers want players with an all-round game. And if you man-mark Silva, that l eaves space f or Toure, Aguero, Sterling . . .