THIAGO SILVAS’S MESSAGE TO PSG OVER LAVISH SPENDING,’MONEY WON’T WIN YOU THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE’.
Chelsea defender Thiago Silva says it’s “the same every year” at Paris Saint-Germain and that they have to stop “starting from scratch” each season if they want to finally win the Champions League. European football’s elite competition has been PSG president Nasser El-Khelaifi’s holy grail for a number of years, but Silva questioned whether their current methods will get them there.
Thiago Silva says Paris Saint-Germain’s elusive search for a first Champions League title will go on unless they make major changes to how the club is run.
The Chelsea defender was on the wrong end of his own fair share of painful exits from Europe’s elite competition during his eight-year stint in the French capital, and that’s only continued since his departure.
PSG’s exit from the Champions League this season to Real Madrid was made all the more galling given they led 2-0 on aggregate with just under half an hour of the tie remaining, before imploding.
Speaking to Canal+, the 37-year-old Silva said: “The elimination was incredible, unimaginable for us who are PSG supporters.
“Every year it’s the same thing. There are things you have to look at to try to improve them in the future.
“As things are, it’s difficult to continue to progress. Every year, we [PSG] start from scratch. You can’t do that in football.
“Even if PSG have a lot of money, that’s not what makes you win in football. That’s not how we’re going to win the Champions League.”
Such is Silva’s bond with his old club that he still uses “we” when talking about them, and he also retains close friendships with ex-team-mates still in Paris such as compatriot Neymar.
Neymar – along with Leo Messi – is typically the lightning rod for criticism when PSG experience their lows, but Silva says fans must change their attitude towards the team following recent unrest.
The 105-cap Brazil international said: “Neymar is very happy in Paris but it’s difficult for him at the moment. It’s hard to be whistled at home.
“In France, he wins everything but it is useless. We have to win the Champions League and that [the fan negativity] is not how they are going to win.
“Fans must support the team. They always make a difference, negatively or positively.”
