Chelsea manager Frank Lampard handed the captain armband to Thiago Silva, as the Blues visited West Brom for this game.
In the absence of regular captain Cesar Azpilicueta and vice-captain Jorginho, Silva was handed the captain’s band despite being a new signing and not knowing how to speak English. When asked what Silva adds to the back line, Lampard told Sky Sports: “Experience, qualities, leadership.
“We have Azpi as club captain, he’s not starting today so Thiago takes the armband with his presence.
“He’s not speaking the language enough to do it in that sense, but it doesn’t matter with someone like him he delivers it with actions and presence and how he is with people around him
“He’s been a winner throughout his career and I want to see that with us.”
Reacting to Lampard’s decision to make Thiago Silva captain, former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp said on Sky Sports: “It shows you he thinks the world of him, he’s got that aura about him that great players have.
“His last game was in the Champions League final. “He could end up being their best signing because of the importance in that area [defence].”