Thiago Silva has admitted he would now like to be Milan’s next captain, having previously never even considered the notion before late November.
The change of heart was a key point to a lengthy interview the Rossoneri stopper held with news agency ANSA this week. The conversation began with a reflection on the calendar year’s performance.
Thiago Silva has admitted he would now like to be Milan’s next captain, having previously never even considered the notion before late November.
The change of heart was a key point to a lengthy interview the Rossoneri stopper held with news agency ANSA this week. The conversation began with a reflection on the calendar year’s performance.
“We won the Scudetto and Supercoppa, we are now first in the League as we wanted – I am very happy with 2011,” reflected the 27-year-old centre-back. “Playing every three days is hard, sometimes I am so tired I do not want to train. But it is the life I wanted, I cannot complain and I have now rested a few days in the sun in Brazil.”
Silva took the captain’s armband for the Rossoneri’s League match with Chievo in November, despite not being the player with the most appearances available for selection.
“Until recently I had no desire to be captain, then it happened for Brazil and I changed my mind. When [Massimiliano] Allegri informed me [for Chievo], I thought he was kidding, [Alexandre] Pato and [Luca] Antonini had the most appearances for Milan.
“Now I always want that armband, I am a leader.
“Before me there is [Massimo] Ambrosini, [Clarence] Seedorf, [Gennaro] Gattuso and [Christian] Abbiati, so let’s see what happens next year, but I’d be the first [permanent] foreign captain of Milan for 50 years [after Nils Liedholm].
“When I put the armband on I can change completely. Antonini knows how much I scream on the field, but I am more comfortable as a captain, I know that I should be a point of reference.”
The centre-back has scored twice already this season, prompting club President Silvio Berlusconi’s claims that the Brazilian would be comfortable as a striker.
“When I score my game changes for the better. In three years with Fluminense I scored 14 goals, this is my third season with Milan and five goals are, for me, an understatement.
“Now, I trust my teammates so that when I go forward they prevent fast counter-attacks, now I try to exploit every corner.”
Silva is then asked why the team have already conceded 16 goals in Serie A this season when through the entirety of 2010-11 they only shipped 24.
“I’m going to talk only about myself. We would not have conceded two goals in Bologna had I been more focused. In that game I got it all wrong. [Massimiliano] Allegri wants more concentration from us – currently smaller teams are given less attention than when we face big sides like Barcelona.
“But in this League the defence is key – if we do not concede then we are sure we can score goals.”
It is noted in the interview that Silva lives on Lake Como, in ex-Inter forward Adriano’s old house. Where police were once called to the house to ask that Adriano turn down the volume during a party, Silva admits to preferring the quiet life.
“I do not like to go out at night or go to the disco. For my birthday my wife held a party, but I didn’t want to do that. Then, that was at six in the afternoon, not the morning.”