According to former Chelsea star William Gallas, Chelsea centre-back Thiago Silva is playing with the air of a man who knows his days at Chelsea are numbered.

The 38-year-old signed a new contract back in February, but that deal expires at the end of the current campaign and Gallas believes the veteran centre-half knows the writing is on that wall and that he does not fit into Mauricio Pochettino’s long-term plans.

“Thiago Silva knows that it is going to be a very difficult season for him,” Gallas told Genting Casino

“He knows that this is his last season, and he doesn’t have the right support around him.

“A player like Thiago Silva, who is thirty-eight-years-old, normally would be looking to the younger players to lift him, to help him with their quality.

“Chelsea doesn’t have that quality at the moment. It looks like he has to manage everything at the back. During the game against Bournemouth, he was trying to explain to the midfield where they have to go when he has the ball.

“That shouldn’t be happening.”