Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, faced questioning about his decision to drop Thiago Silva for the FA Cup fourth-round replay against Aston Villa. This decision was met with further scrutiny after Silva’s wife took to social media to express dissatisfaction and suggest that Pochettino should be sacked. She later apologized for her comments, stating her passion for the team and her desire for success. In response to the criticism, Pochettino defended his decision, emphasizing that player selection is based on performance and balance.
He also mentioned that Thiago Silva contacted him to address any potential tension. Pochettino’s choice to start Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi in defense over the 39-year-old Silva prompted questions about his decision-making. He clarified that his selection process is based solely on professionalism and performance, and made a point to address the criticism from Silva’s wife. Overall, Pochettino’s response to the controversy surrounding Thiago Silva’s absence from the lineup emphasized the importance of professionalism and performance in his selection process, while also acknowledging and addressing the external scrutiny.