Chiellini’s chilling Ramos tribute
WHAT insight into the mentality of real, top-level winners it is to hear of Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini singing the praises of ratbag extraordinaire Sergio Ramos in his autobiography.
Chiellini refers to the Real Madrid stalwart taking Liverpool’s Mo Salah out of the 2018 Champions League final after damaging his shoulder as ‘a masterstroke’.
‘He, Sergio, the master, has always said that it was unintentional, but he was aware that falling in the way that he did, without loosening his grip on that hold, nine times out of 10 you can break your opponent’s arm,’ writes Chiellini, hardly a shrinking violet himself.
‘(He is) the best defender in the world.’
Next time you are getting on your high horse about forwards diving or professional fouls, bear in mind that this is what you are up against at elite level. It is dog-eat-dog.
Like it or lump it, that is what our players need to do more of.