Chiellini on Saka foul, Italy triumph and most iconic career moment | OneFootball

Italy legend Giorgio Chiellini explains why hauling back England’s Bukayo Saka was the ‘right thing’ in the EURO 2020 Final and chooses the image that best represents his career.

The now-retired defender spoke to Sky Sport Italia as the Azzurri prepare to defend their European Championship title in Germany this summer.

It was partly thanks to that incredibly obvious shirt tug on Saka at the half-way line that Italy won the EURO 2020 Final against England on penalties.

“In reality, it was a stupid mistake on my part,” confessed Chiellini.

“I misread the situation, but I was able to react to the error. At that moment, it was the right thing to do. It was not the nicest or most beautiful thing to do, but I am someone who always focused on being effective rather than elegance or style.”

Later on that evening, when the England players stepped up to take their penalties in the shoot-out, the veteran was also spotted chanting ‘Kirikocho’ towards them as a sort of curse.

“It came from Rodrigo Bentancur and Paulo Dybala, as on every free kick or penalty for the opposition, they would say it to bring them bad luck. It stuck in my mind and I would say it every now and then too, but that’s not why we won.

“Put the credit on Donnarumma. I could’ve just shouted ‘Gigio’ and it would’ve worked even better!”

Iconic Chiellini moments

Now that he has retired after a lifetime at Juventus and brief spell with LAFC, when he looks back over his career, what moment really sums him up?

“I would choose two. The first is the EUROs victory and lifting the trophy to the sky at Wembley. However, if I have to choose a picture where I can really see myself, it would be that match against Real Madrid when my head was bandaged up and I was celebrating with two Blancos players behind me.”

It used to be said that it wasn’t a ‘proper’ Chiellini performance until he was bleeding, and that image does remain iconic.