Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini has confessed that he’d love to work with Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola, describing his charisma as special.
Chiellini who said he had learned so much from former Juventus coaches, Max Allegri and Antonio Conte, in an Instagram Live Chat with Martina Colombari, the wife of ex-Milan defender Billy Costacurta, said his love for Guardiola was through a documentary on Manchester City, where he also saw the weaknesses of the Spanish tactician.
The Juventus captain, who noted that he had only known the Spaniard from a distance, said it is easy to see someone passionate about football, like him.
Speaking on his relationship with Conte, who now coaches Inter Milan, the skipper said the tactician focused on simple things and allowed them to create moves from the back initially.
While stating that Conte asked a lot from him while he gave him just as much in return, Chiellini described him and Allegri as special coaches that helped him mature tactically.
“Marcello Lippi was able to read situations more than tactics; he had a clear and honest rapport with everyone. I was a bit too young when I worked with him to appreciate that.”
Chiellini’s criticism of Milan
Speaking after being criticised over what he wrote about Inter in his autobiography, where he said he had ‘sporting hatred’ for the San Siro team, the tough tackler clarified his thoughts saying he was growing up in Milan and he supported the team when he started playing while his brother and father support Juventus.
My mother shared my Milan love. When I signed for Juve in 2004, it did not go down well. There used to be a more family feel about clubs in Italy, such as Massimo Moratti’s Inter or Silvio Berlusconi’s Milan. The world is changing, and we have to adapt too, but there is some nostalgia and respect for that era.”
Speaking further, the world cup winner said he would have loved to play alongside Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic because he is the opponent who got the best out of him. He noted that the Swedish former international was strong at 24 when he joined Milan. Because he could keep up with him and showed no fear, he was respected by Ibra.
On the talent of the team star, Cristiano Ronaldo, Chiellini is happy to have him as a teammate as he won’t have to score past him again.
“He is on another level, you can tell that, and it’s only right to admit it. When you have a champion like this, you need to get the most out of him.”
