Thiago Silva (foto: Uradni Twitter profil kluba/zveze)
With Thiago Silva, Fluminense has achieved a string of victories and clean sheets in the Brasileirão, transforming from bottom-dwellers to contenders for survival in just two weeks.
Fluminense has found reasons to smile again. In just over half a year, the Brazilian club went from winning their first Copa Libertadores to being bottom of the Brasileirão. Now, they believe in the miracle of survival. Feeling hopeless, they found the solution to their crisis in the transfer market. The turnaround began with the return of Thiago Silva after sixteen years. In less than a month, he has become the talisman Mano Menezes needed to reverse a dire situation heading towards disaster and relegation.
The former Chelsea player re-debuted with the tricolor on July 21. His arrival brought immediate success. Fluminense secured their first victory since their last win in late May in the Copa Libertadores against Alianza Lima – their last league win was in late April against Vasco da Gama.
A total of ten winless games led to the dismissal of Fernando Diniz. Since then, the club has won all their domestic league matches against Cuiabá, Palmeiras, RB Bragantino, and Bahia.
The positive numbers extend beyond victories. Alongside a 100% win rate, their defensive improvement is notable. Fluminense has kept four consecutive clean sheets with Thiago Silva, a feat not achieved since the final two rounds of the 2022 Brazilian championship and the first two of 2023.
This run, from matchday 18 to 21, has lifted them from last place with eight points (seven from safety) to 17th place with twenty points (just one point away from escaping the relegation zone).
Without him, their problems are evident, as seen in the Copa do Brasil defeat to Juventude where he didn't play. This stellar resurgence was unimaginable even for the most optimistic fans. From being written off to being more alive than ever, Fluminense's climb continues.
The upcoming match against Vasco da Gama on Saturday, with the mathematical possibility of escaping the relegation zone, is the last test before the Copa Libertadores round of 16 against Grêmio. In this competition, they have shown their best form this year.