What Thiago Silva has said about return as Chelsea look to 'copy Man City manager plan'

Chelsea reportedly want to create a new coaching pipeline that emulates Manchester City's ability to progress players into the dugout.

According to the Evening Standard, the Blues partially appointed Enzo Maresca as their new head coach because of his time working under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. Last season, the Italian undertook his first managerial campaign in England as he led Leicester City to the Championship title and an immediate return to the Premier League.

However, owner Todd Boehly also admires how the City Football Group have managed to produce a series of top-quality coaches including Girona's Michel and Tottenham Hotspur's Ange Postecoglou who previously managed the group's Yokohama F Marinos. It is believed that the Blues want to replicate this moving forward with departing centre-back Thiago Silva earmarked as a likely candidate to be a manager.

Silva will join his boyhood club Fluminense at the culmination of his contract at Chelsea but the Blues are believed to be keen on bringing him back to Stamford Bridge in a coaching capacity once his playing career ends. After announcing his departure, the Brazilian expressed how keen he was to return to London one day.

He said: "I think in everything I did here over the four years, I always gave my all. But, unfortunately, everything has a start, a middle and an end.

"That doesn't mean that this is a definitive end. I hope to leave the door open so that in the near future I can return, albeit in another role here.

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"But…it's an indescribable love. I can only say thank you."