Chelsea suffer crushing blow as Thiago Silva news confirmed - pundit
Alan Hutton has insisted Chelsea will struggle without Thiago Silva.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Tottenham and Aston Villa defender said that although the Blues have appropriate cover, the will miss Silva's intelligence.
Speaking in his press conference ahead of the 1-0 victory over Leeds on Saturday (4 March), Graham Potter confirmed that the 38-year-old will be out for six weeks with a knee ligament injury.
The defender has started all but one Premier League game he has featured in and has been an integral part of the Blues' defence.
On 5 January, the London club confirmed the signing of Benoit Badiashile on a seven-and-a-half year deal.
Potter also has Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly and Trevoh Chalobah as options at centre-back.
But Hutton insisted the Blues will miss the presence of Silva at the back.
"They have got cover, they just bought Badiashile, Koulibaly is still there," he told Football Insider.
"They have got cover there is no doubt about that but I think when Thiago Silva is not there they are not the same team.
"He has got that experience, his age does not matter because he has never had to rely on being lightning quick.
"He is so intelligent, he knows how to play the game. So to miss him for such a long period of time, when there is so much pressure within the team, is going to be difficult."