Thiago Silva off to Brazil as Tuchel laments ‘impossible’ situation

Thiago Silva is one of a fairly significant number of Premier League footballers heading off to international duty in red-listed countries, which will necessitate a mandatory quarantine period following after their return. While thanks to a recent comprise and allowance from the UK government, they will be able to participate in training and games immediately, they will have to isolate from the rest of their families and the rest of society for those ten days.

It’s certainly not an ideal solution for anyone involved, though Chelsea will likely make it as easy as possible on the players by setting them up in the hotel at Stamford Bridge or some sleeping quarters at Cobham. (Spurs are doing something for their affected players, for example.)

Meanwhile, an additional concern for the likes of Thiago Silva is that Brazil have once again three games scheduled for the two-week break, including a World Cup qualifier next Wednesday (October 14) night against Uruguay in Manaus, Brazil — 1:30am London time Thursday morning. As Tuchel has lamented, that essentially rules out Silva from our first game back from the break, which will be Saturday evening (London time), barely 60 hours later, against Brentford.

“He will go and then he will play for Brazil, and then he will come back on the match day versus Brentford. This is the life of international breaks in 2021. Like it or not, what can I do?

“He’s our player and he arrives on the match day back from a country where he then needs to do quarantine. Is this a good solution for us as a club? No, but we cannot hold himm back. It’s impossible.

“If they call him, he needs to go, otherwise he gets suspended by FIFA. So there is no choice. You simply have to live with it.”

-Thomas Tuchel; source: Chelsea FC

Nothing like forcing the clubs paying the actual salaries to sacrifice their players on the altar of FIFA’s international insistence.

On the plus side, Silva’s absence could give Trevoh Chalobah another start!