SILVA IS OLD GOLD TOO..

THIAGO SILVA claims he signed for Chelsea because boss Frank Lampard was also once written off as ‘too old’.

Brazil icon Silva, 35, signed a one-year deal with the Blues last month after leaving Paris SaintGermain as a free agent.

And the defender (in training, above) has hit back at critics who claim he’s past it – just as they did of Lampard, when the Blues boss signed for Manchester City at 36 back in 2014.

Silva said: “In football, there are very strong preconceptions regarding the age of players. But I know about his experience when he first arrived at Manchester City, theoretically at the end of his career. He endured the same sort of thing as I’ve gone through.

“So even from the outside, without knowing me personally, Frank knows how hard I work to remain at the highest level. The confidence that he showed in me – that was all it took.

“For me, that confidence was the single most important factor. To hear that he believed in me, that he thought I could come here and make a popositive contribution.

“You can be sure I’ll do everything I can to repay that confidence oout on the pitch.”

Chelsea have had a mimixed start to the new campaigncamp but Silva (left), who has won 21 trophies in a glittering career, claims the Blues will prove they can fight for the title this season.

Silva could make his debut against Barnsley tomorrow and added: “I’m not just here for the experience, I’m here to win. My main goal is to win the league title and I’m certain that we’ll be fighting for that every step of the way.”