Thiago Silva has been named as Chelsea's Player of the Season after another superb campaign for the Brazilian.
The 38-year-old has played 34 times in all competitions for the Blues this term with his longevity at the very top level continuing to defy logic. Now, he has been rewarded with the Player of the Season prize ahead of Chelsea's final game – of what has been a disastrous campaign – against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge.
There weren't too many standout candidates for the award with Chelsea finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table this season, and with no trophies either. But Silva, who signed a one-year contract extension back in February, is the most fitting person to receive the award.
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Recently, interim head coach Frank Lampard praised the Brazilian for his longevity at the top of the sport and put it down to the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch. "It's an amazing achievement physically," Lampard told reporters.
"I played until 38 or 39 in the last few years in the MLS and my body was telling me 'don't do it', that kind of thing, so to see someone do it at centre-back which I think is the most important position in terms of sharpness and how you can get exposed because of the level of player, it is because of his quick-thinking and the understanding of the role and recovering the danger.
"It's just incredible. When I brought him into the club, it was immediately evident that he was a top, high-level player. He was possibly, not better than I thought but I was like 'wow, he is one of the best in the world in his position'.
"He looks after himself, great understanding of the game and he wants to help those around him. I've got nothing but praise for Thiago and to see him at this level is an inspiration to all of the players.
"They could and should learn a lot from him in terms of how he looks after himself off the pitch and how he approaches training daily, what he demands from his teammates, that's something that has to rub off more at the minute. Yes, he has been special."
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