Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has addressed reports that star defender Thiago Silva is growing frustrated at the club.
The Telegraph reported that Brazilian defender has been irked by the Blues manager, which begun when he was overlooked for the captain's armband.
Reece James was named club captain when Cesar Azpilicueta left the before the start of the season.
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Even with James not on the bench, the armband has gone to Ben Chilwell and Enzo Fernandez ahead of Silva.
"I explain the truth like always," Pochettino told the reporters on Friday, as per Goal.
"For me, it was nominating Reece [James], I think is the perfect captain of course and then an English player with experience is Chilly [Ben Chilwell]. And then I think Thiago is because of experience; today is his birthday, 39, and I think he is an experienced player that doesn't need the armband and then I think it's important to build something for the future."
"Why is Thiago here? Because he wants to stay here. He stayed here because the club wanted him to stay here. They extended the contract. But I think Thiago knew the project very well when he extended the project last season.
"He knew the project for the future. But now you are asking me things that I cannot answer. When he extended the contract I wasn't here. If he is here he wanted to stay and the club wanted him to stay."