Real Madrid vs. Chelsea: Ranking the 5 best players on the Blues

2) Thiago Silva

I think of Thiago Silva the same way I think of Luka Modric and Karim Benzema. The age just does not matter, and it’s possible that these three players may not be human after all. Thiago Silva will be 38 this year, and the level at which he’s playing football right now, you would not be able to guess.

This would definitely be a great sight to watch: A veteran centre-back — one of the best of this century — going up against one of the greatest strikers of all time in Karim Benzema.

Thiago Silva is really, really good with the ball, and his positioning is excellent. He is a leader of this Chelsea team right now, and there is no doubt about the fact that he can still go on for another couple of seasons if he wanted to.

Even though Chelsea have struggled a bit more than they did last season, their defensive numbers are still outstanding, and Thiago Silva is one big reason why.

Of course, the fitness is an issue. As you get older, your body tends to put up with lesser wear and tear, but even then, Silva has been better physically than he was last season, and that’s definitely a good thing for Chelsea and Silva.

I don’t really have a lot to say about his impact on other players. I think that if Silva is not on the pitch, the players around him don’t play as well as they would when the Brazillian is on the pitch. It’s just a fact. He completes Chelsea, and it’s really something to worry about if you’re a Madrid fan.

I think I am most excited about Silva’s duel with Benzema, out of all the players on either team. And the fact that their average age is 35.5, it’s saying something. A battle for the ages, quite literally.