Jamie Carragher penned an impassioned tribute to Giorgio Chiellini after Juventus beat Tottenham Hotspur. “England have nobody like him.”
The Bianconeri fought back from a 2-2 first leg result and Hon Seung-Min goal at Wembley to win 2-1 in the Champions League.
Although Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala got the goals, former England and Liverpool midfielder Carragher hailed another hero.
Jamie Carragher penned an impassioned tribute to Giorgio Chiellini after Juventus beat Tottenham Hotspur. “England have nobody like him.”
The Bianconeri fought back from a 2-2 first leg result and Hon Seung-Min goal at Wembley to win 2-1 in the Champions League.
Although Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala got the goals, former England and Liverpool midfielder Carragher hailed another hero.
“Where is England’s Chiellini?” wrote the pundit in The Telegraph newspaper.
“Who among the centre-backs in Southgate’s squad could produce a performance of Chiellini’s calibre in that last 20 minutes against Spurs at Wembley on Wednesday night? There is nobody close.
“That is a worry going into the World Cup. When England find themselves under pressure, holding on to a lead in a tight game, who will step up like the Juventus centre-half?
“Whatever happens in the CL this season, Chiellini’s reaction when intercepting the cross from Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min will be one of the competition’s enduring images. It made me jump out my seat and applaud the TV. Then the celebration between Chiellini and (Gigi) Buffon. I loved it.
“Dybala may have scored the winning goal, but I am sure everyone in that dressing room was thanking Chiellini.”
The 33-year-old has been with the Bianconeri since 2005, but sadly won’t get a chance to shine at the 2018 World Cup because Italy failed to qualify.
“Chiellini’s performance made me realise what I miss most about playing. He would have slept soundly on Wednesday night after his masterclass in organisation and resilience during those last 20 minutes.
“As the game entered the closing stages, I said to my son: ‘Just watch Chiellini. Watch everything he does.’”