The Brazilian centre-back says he has a lot of confidence in the squad and believes they are close to making an impact on the European stage after recent quarter-final exits
Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva believes the reigning Ligue 1 champions are ready to step up and claim Champions League glory.
The Ligue 1 champions have dominated their domestic league, but are yet to cement themselves as a European powerhouse, having been eliminated from the Champions League at the quarter-finals in each of the last three seasons - losing out twice to Barcelona and once to Chelsea.
PSG face Chelsea for the third time in a row in the competition's last-16 this term, hosting them at the Parc des Princes in Tuesday's first-leg.
And Thiago Silva is confident his side are ready to go all the way in the tournament and feels their first continental crown will be achieved in the near future.
"As captain of the team I say we are close and ready to win," he told the Daily Telegraph. "We know that it is possible although, obviously, we also know that it is not easy.
"But I have a lot of confidence that PSG has the quality to go all the way. I know the quality of this team, I am very proud of this team. We can do it.
"Playing Chelsea is a magnificent draw because I think we already know this team quite well
"They have got a lot of Brazilian players, it’s not far from Paris and there is already the rivalry."
PSG are runaway leaders in Ligue 1 this year, building a virtually unassailable lead of 24 points, and Thiago Silva believes this could be a problem when they re-enter the cauldron of top-level European competition.
"It is difficult," he says. "When you are accustomed to winning, when you are used to winning, then afterwards you tend not to have the same level of concentration.
"Sometimes you go into the games thinking you have already won because you are so strong. But we will stay strong because we have not yet won the Champions League.
"We have not succeeded in winning the one we are dreaming of. And I think that it is why we will continue to keep winning. Everyone says that PSG are strong but we need to show our strong face to Europe, to the world.
"If we don't win the Champions League and keep winning in France then people will say ‘they are not ready to win it yet’. But, as captain, I say we are ready.
"I can see in the players' faces that they are hungry for victory, for success. And they really want to make history for this club. So we are ready."
- Goal