Installed at the front of the PSG coach, Thiago Silva is one of the first to see the hundreds of Parisian supporters who came to greet their heroes on Wednesday at the foot of their hotel, two hours after their qualification for the final of the Champions League. The Parisian captain greeted them soberly, his smile hidden by the mask in the colors of the club that covered his face. Far from the euphoria that had won over his troops, the captain savored the moment by already preparing for the rest. A summit against Bayern Munich in the form of the end point of his career at PSG. A 315th and last match in the red and blue jersey. Most important of all.
“While I was playing Atalanta in the quarter-finals, I didn't know if this was my last game or if I would have the chance to play another. I can't help but think about it, he tells the club website. If this final turns out to be my last game, I'll be happy. I was able to give everything I could ”.
25 trophies in eight seasons
When he arrives in the summer of 2012 from AC Milan for 42 million euros, Thiago Silva is considered at 27 years old as the best defender in the world. “O Monstro”, as he was called, was then captain of Brazil. A year later, he also became that of PSG with which he brandished 25 trophies in eight seasons. “It will remain forever in the history of the club, breath admiring Valdo, another Brazilian legend of PSG. The fact that he was able to extend his contract only for this final phase of the Champions League is difficult for him. If there is one who deserves to win Sunday, it is him. He went through difficult times in Paris, he was criticized but he always remained the same. I dream of seeing him brandish the Champions League. "
Thiago Silva took Leonardo's decision not to offer him a contract extension as an uppercut. "A logical decision had to be made, even at the economic level or with regard to the coming generation," explained Leonardo, the sports director in June in the columns of the Journal du dimanche. Maybe we're wrong, I don't know, there is never a perfect moment… ”By way of farewell, the Parisian captain will only have the right to a few words on July 21 at the 'after the friendly match against Celtic at the foot of a sparse Auteuil stand due to restrictions linked to the coronavirus epidemic.
With tears in his eyes, accompanied by his two boys, the captain had promised at the microphone that “the story was not over”. This Sunday, it will be written at the Luz stadium in Lisbon in the Portuguese capital which Isabelle, Iago and Isago have joined; the wife and sons of the Brazilian naturalized French in 2019. Due to a lack of seats in the stadium, it is at the hotel that they will watch the match. Monday morning, they will be on a plane to reach Paris, convinced that they will attend the festivities of the European coronation of PSG.
On the Chelsea shelves
Thiago Silva, often singled out for his responsibilities in the shipwrecks against Barcelona in 2017 or Manchester United last year, is the first to distill the idea that Paris can this time believe in its destiny. At the Myriad hotel in Lisbon as well as on the Sporting training ground, the future ex-Parisian displays unfailing serenity and confidence.
“It is exactly as usual, blows a member of the Parisian delegation. It doesn't look like he's about to leave the club. We feel he is totally invested in his mission. “At 35, Thiago Silva does not yet know what his future will be like when several European teams like Chelsea are interested in his profile or that Brazilian clubs dream of welcoming him to the country. The person is still hoping for a last minute sign from PSG. A club on which he printed his imprint.
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“I will be grateful all my life for everything I have experienced here,” he continues. I feel happy and very honored to have been part of this team, to have contributed to its development. We have experienced great disappointments, and real moments of happiness. We arrived at a final that we dreamed of, for which we worked so hard. We are really happy. But we don't want to be satisfied with it. "