Thiago Silva has admitted Chelsea must approach the second half of the season as a "fresh start" with the Blues struggling for consistent results in the first six months of the campaign. Graham Potter's side currently sit tenth in the Premier League table ahead of their clash against Fulham on Friday night where a win would take them above their west London rivals.
Results and performances have improved since the resumption of the season following the World Cup, but inconsistency has continued to plague Chelsea with sub-par displays against Nottingham Forest and Fulham in January.
However, recent outings have restored some optimism with back-to-back clean sheets secured after a victory over Crystal Palace and goalless draw at Anfield against Liverpool. Those two results have coincided with the inclusion of Benoit Badiashile to the starting XI who has settled into the backline seamlessly, helped significantly by Thiago Silva who continues to be the arguably the clubs best performer.
READ MORE: Enzo Fernandez a worry for Graham Potter ahead of Chelsea star's Premier League debut vs Fulham
Despite being 38, Silva still continues to show the attributes he displayed a decade ago, with his ability to read the game proving a massive help to Chelsea. The Brazilian sees his contract expire at the end of the season, but an extension seems almost a guarantee.
"We are talking about it [a new contract]," he said as quoted by Chelsea's official website. "Probably everything will happen in the next few days. My intention and the club's intention are the same: to stay together.
"I know that the club needs me at this moment, I'm here to help, there are young players. I think that with my experience I can help in this process of rebuilding the club. I am here for this, willing to do this. But I know that my responsibility is huge. I know we have a lot of work ahead of us."
Despite the disappointment surrounding Chelsea's struggles this season, their January spending seems to have given fresh optimism over possible success this season being achieved at Stamford Bridge. Silva seems to also be a part of that group as he insists Chelsea must turn around their fortunes and get the club back to competing at the very top of English football starting with a huge clash against Fulham
"A fresh start," he said when asked what Friday night's fixture means to him. "We're going to have to talk a lot. We're going to have to say that the season is starting again now. We can't make the mistake we made in the first half of the season, we need to start this comeback in a positive way.
"If I'm not wrong, we've now got two important results, we haven't conceded a goal and that gives a sense of security to the players up front. I hope we start with the right foot, as we usually say, and finish the season in a dignified way, where Chelsea deserves to be, which is in the top four, fighting for the title.
"We know that the title is very far away, but the top four is important for us to finish the season and we have the Champions League as well."
READ NEXT:
Full Chelsea squad revealed for Fulham clash amid Enzo Fernandez wait and Reece James return
Christopher Nkunku sends Graham Potter clear positional instruction ahead of Chelsea transfer
Predicted Chelsea team vs Fulham – Enzo Fernandez debut decision taken, Mykhailo Mudryk starts
Chelsea Premier League squad confirmed as Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk absence explained
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
