Former England defender Rio Ferdinand believes centre-back Thiago Silva has played one of the most important roles in Chelsea's excellent start to the season.
The Blues climbed to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday evening with an impressive 3-1 win over Leeds United at Stamford Bridge, despite falling behind to an early goal from former Chelsea man Patrick Bamford.
Goals from Olivier Giroud, Kurt Zouma and substitute Christian Pulisic sealed all three points for Frank Lampard's side, ensuring they ended the day at the top of the table, although they were soon replaced by Tottenham Hotspur at the summit less than 24 hours later.
Nevertheless, Chelsea's start to the season, especially when you factor in all of their new summer recruits, has been impressive, with their current form suggesting that they have all of the necessary qualities to maintain a solid Premier League title charge this term.
And for Ferdinand, one man who has been central to the Blues' push for the title has been summer signing Silva, who has immediately solved their defensive troubles with his leadership qualities and experience.
Ferdinand told Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE: "Chelsea are on absolute fire, they're flying.
"Frank Lampard has got his team confident. If they go a goal down, it's not a problem.
"And who is at the base of that, the foundations of that, for me, it would have to be Thiago Silva. He has come in, shown his experience, played in big games all around the world and I think if they go a goal down and things aren't really ticking for them, he sits there at the back and everyone looks at him for that inspiration."
Whilst Silva was drafted in following his release from French giants Paris Saint-Germain to help the Blues tighten their defensive-line, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner were all signed to add flair to Chelsea's attacking options.
Although all three of them have shown glimpses of what they are capable of, Ferdinand believes the best is yet to come from those three, as well as admitting that Chelsea are genuine title contenders.
"Also, we haven't even seen the best of Werner, we haven't even seen the best of Havertz yet, Ziyech and Pulisic has just come back and he looked amazing when he came on [against Leeds].
"Listen, Chelsea are in it [the title race] and I think they are in it for the long-run. They are going be there at the end."
