Cody Gakpo says Chelsea had the best defender he’s ever faced with no hesitation

Add as preferred source on Google

Cody Gakpo has played against some brilliant defenders throughout his career, but when it comes to the best, he had no hesitation naming a former Chelsea player.

Gakpo has competed against a range of brilliant defenders throughout his career, especially since joining Liverpool, facing some of the best names in the Premier League and Europe.

The Liverpool forward has also had the opportunity to compete against Virgil van Dijk on a daily basis in training, which has given him a great understanding of what a top defender is.

Considering Chelsea’s defensive frailties in recent years, fans might not have expected him to name someone who had played for the Blues, but that was his immediate response.

Cody Gakpo reveals Thiago Silva is the best defender he’s faced

Gakpo recently spoke to Goal Global, who asked who the best defender he’s ever faced was, and without hesitation, he named Thiago Silva.

Silva spent four years playing for Chelsea, where he was a regular in the heart of their defence and a leader on and off the pitch.

Silva was already a vastly experienced player when he joined the Blues, having spent long periods at AC Milan and PSG before making that move.

That knowledge was evident with every performance he gave for Chelsea, with Silva’s quality often shining through.

Gakpo played against Silva three times throughout his Liverpool career, with the Reds winning once and the other two games ending in a draw.

However, Gakpo was never able to get the best of Silva during those matches, as he failed to score a single goal against Chelsea while he was in the team.

Thiago Silva had a memorable spell at Chelsea

Silva joined Chelsea on a free transfer in 2020 after his PSG contract ended, as Frank Lampard helped convince him to move to the Premier League.

The Brazil international didn’t look back after making that move, staying at Stamford Bridge until 2024, despite only signing a one-year deal when he first joined the club.

Silva captained the club and became a crucial player under Lampard and Thomas Tuchel, eventually winning the Champions League for the first time.

Silva moved on in 2024, and Chelsea have struggled to replace his dominant and calming presence ever since, while he continues to play for Fluminense.