Thomas Tuchel says Chelsea had "no choice" but to let Thiago Silva join up with the Brazil squad for their World Cup qualifiers even though it will rule the defender out of the Premier League game against Brentford.
Silva has started three of the Blues' last four top-flight fixtures in addition to the Champions League group stage defeat to Juventus in Turin.
The 37-year-old has shown no sign of slowing down in what is his 20th season in the professional game.
It's why he remains a firm fixture in the Brazil squad. Silva has earned 98 caps for his country and remains steadfast in his ambition in representing the Selecao at the 2022 World Cup.
Brazil are very much on course to reach Qatar. They have won every game in South American World Cup qualifying thus far, a record that was maintained last month despite not having any of their Premier League-based players.
Silva and seven others were stopped from travelling to Brazil in September as they would've faced a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a hotel room on their return to the UK due to Covid-19 red list restrictions.
A row subsequently erupted between the country's FA and several Premier League sides which was only resolved 12 hours ahead of Chelsea's clash against Aston Villa.
Quarantine restrictions are to be eased by the UK government this week with the red list set to be reduced to just nine countries.
As a result, Silva will not be stopped from joining up with the Brazil squad even though it will keep him out of the west London derby against the Bees.
"Thiago will go and then he will play for Brazil and then he will come back on the matchday versus Brentford," Tuchel explained after Saturday's 3-1 victory over Southampton.
"It is the life of international breaks, it is the situation of international breaks in 2021. Like it or not, what can I do?
"He is our player and he arrives on the matchday from a country where he needs to then maybe do quarantine. Is it a good solution for us as a club? No. But we cannot hold him back.
"It is impossible. If they call him he needs to go. Otherwise, he gets suspended from FIFA. There is no choice and it is something we have to live with."
