Thiago Silva has admitted to Chelsea’s official website that West Ham United are among the sides that have shocked him this season.
Silva joined Chelsea in the summer and says that when he first arrived in the Premier League he was expecting a lot of long-range football.
However, the experienced Brazilian has been shocked by just how well West Ham play football.
And he has moved to praise David Moyes’ side in his latest comments.
“In my head, the majority of the teams played a long ball game, always kicking it long,” Silva said. “That’s the idea I had in my head in the past but when I came here I saw that teams try to play.
“I think Pep Guardiola has brought well-played football along with him and changed this aspect in other coaches. I saw teams which, while being less prominent than Manchester City or Chelsea, were teams that liked to play good football.
“There are teams now in the top five or six of the Premier League, like West Ham and Leicester, who are teams that play proper football and like to do so. That surprised me in a good way but still, in terms of intensity, it’s one of the most intense leagues in the world.”
West Ham fans are likely to be delighted to receive such glowing praise of one of the best central defenders of the modern era.
Silva’s words also highlight just how much progress Moyes’ side have made this season.
West Ham are still in with a chance of claiming a top four spot, especially after Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal last night.
The Hammers are currently six points away from the Champions League spots, but do have a game in hand over both Chelsea and Leicester City.
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