Following Chelsea’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, Thiago Silva engaged in a heated exchange with jeering Chelsea fans.
The Blues displayed inefficiency in their offensive efforts, allowing Hayden Hackney to score the sole goal of the match, granting the Championship side a first-leg victory.
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Upon the final whistle at the Riverside Stadium, the Chelsea team faced vehement boos from their away fans as they approached to express gratitude.
Silva, aged 39, was observed conversing with a group of displeased Chelsea supporters, attempting to pacify the situation before departing the field.
‘Look, they have to go over,’ former Chelsea player Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said as he watched the incident unfold on Sky Sports.
‘Of course, the fans are not going to be happy. But you always go to the fans and you have to make sure in the next game that you make things right.’
When asked about the confrontation after the game, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said: ‘I didn’t see what was going on. Fans should feel disappointed but we still have 90 minutes to play.’
During his post-match press conference, Pochettino, when probed for more details regarding the incident, hinted that Chelsea fans might have been directing their boos towards Middlesbrough supporters.
‘Don’t be confused because the fans were reacting to Middlesbrough fans, they were fantastic with us,’ Pochettino added.
‘Thiago and some players, they were trying to calm our fans because I think it was a problem between the fans. Be careful how you translate to the media or our fans. Don’t confuse our fans.’
On January 23, Chelsea will welcome Middlesbrough to Stamford Bridge for the second leg, aiming to reverse their fortunes in the semi-final and secure a spot at Wembley.
The Carabao Cup presents Chelsea with a significant opportunity for silverware this season, especially given their absence from European competitions and struggles in the Premier League.
Despite these challenges, they remain active in the FA Cup, having triumphed over Preston on Saturday.
In the other Carabao Cup semi-final, Liverpool will be facing Fulham, with their initial encounter scheduled for Wednesday.
Looking ahead, Chelsea is set to resume action on Saturday in a west London derby, playing host to Fulham.
