Italy: Chiellini “needed” to return to selection – Info thread

Finding the Italian team: Azzurri captain Giorgio Chiellini admitted on Monday that he “needed it” after a virtually white season with Juventus due to a serious knee injury. “Doubts, I had some yes, but the coach has always remained close in recent months and I can only be grateful to him,” said the captain to the 103 caps at a press conference in Florence where the Italy is preparing its next Nations League matches against Bosnia (Friday) and the Netherlands (Monday). “It’s a pleasure to come back to the selection, I needed it,” he said.

The last selection of the irremovable Italian defender (1st selection in November 2004) dates back to June 2019. He then suffered a serious injury during the summer, in his right knee, and underwent surgery in early September 2019. “I stayed three months without seeing my family, but the last two months have been the worst, I wanted to make my contribution to the team … Now I feel like myself again, ”explained the Juve defender. On the eve of the resumption of a season which will conclude with the Euro, for which Italy has qualified with 10 wins in 10 matches, the 36-year-old defender does not intend to “set personal goals “:” If I succeed in making the Euro, I will be happy, that will mean that I have regained my level. I don’t want to think about the rest. “