Graham Potter has lauded Chelsea defender Thiago Silva ahead of their Champions League clash against AC Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday evening.
The 38-year-old spent almost four years at the Italian club earlier in his career, before making his move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2012.
It will be his first visit to the San Siro in over 10 years since his transfer to France, where he won 25 major trophies before arriving at Stamford Bridge.
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Silva faced up against his former club last week, where Chelsea blew them away. Goals from Wesley Fofana, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Reece James ensured a comfortable 3-0 victory.
READ MORE: Graham Potter delivers 'fantastic' verdict on Chelsea's hard-earned 3-0 win over Wolves
Despite excelling at the back in the match, Silva was battling through after suffering with an illness which ultimately kept him out of the following game against Wolves, which was another 3-0 win at the Bridge, in preparation for this Champions League tie.
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"He was ok when we played AC Milan, but he just got a little bit worse as the week went on," Potter explained.
"In the end, because there were only two days between the games, it makes sense to play him again. But he's recovered well."
He added: "He's been incredibly impressive on and off the pitch. He is a leader. He's a top professional and a top person. He's been again a joy to work with."
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The experienced defender joined The Blues just over two years ago and has been a key man in the defence since then.
With his contract expiring at the end of the season, the Chelsea boss was quizzed on whether the club will be looking to extend the deal.
While his response was as expected, Potter was full of praise for the veteran centre-back.
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"I think the decision is Thiago's. I've been here three or four weeks. I see his qualities," he said.
"He's an incredible person, incredible player. The level he can play at, the performance level he can reach, and the respect he has through the game is just incredible.
"All I can do is try and help him enjoy his football here, be part of a winning team and all of the rest is something for him and the club to think about."
Chelsea will be aiming for another three points whilst in Italy. They currently sit in second place in Group E, one point behind RB Salzburg at the summit.
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Stefano Pioli's men will not be easy to beat, however, with the Serie A side on the same amount of points as Potter's side after the third Champions League gameweek.
Topics: Thiago Silva, Chelsea, AC Milan, Champions League, Graham Potter, Football
Cain Smith