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Giorgio Chiellini Has Claimed Sergio Ramos' Foul On Mo Salah Was A Masterstroke

Giorgio Chiellini Has Claimed Sergio Ramos' Foul On Mo Salah Was A Masterstroke

The Juventus defender thinks the defining moment of the 2018 Champions League final was done completely on purpose by the Real Madrid man.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Giorgio Chiellini has hailed Sergio Ramos foul on Mohamed Salah in the 2018 Champions League final a 'masterstroke,' despite the Real Madrid captain claiming injuring the forward wasn't his plan.

The final between Real Madrid and Liverpool is as well remembered for Ramos' foul on Salah as it is for Gareth Bale's incredible goal and Lloris Karius' two errors, as Real won their 13th European title.

Ramos' foul, where he pulled down on Salah, saw the Egyptian go off injured in the first half and the Spaniard has always said he didn't set out to injure the former Roma man, something Chiellini isn't too convinced by.

"He's [Ramos] the best defender in the world," the Juventus defender writes in his new autobiography, serialised by AS.

"They say he's impulsive, not tactical at all, that 8-10 goals are conceded each season through his mistakes, that he's very technical and that he could be a striker, which is the opposite of me.

"However, he has two characteristics that almost no-one else has. He knows how to be decisive in big games, with interventions that go beyond any logic, that even cause injuries with almost devilish wit.

"The one on Salah in the 2018 Champions League Final was a masterstroke. He's always said that he didn't do it on purpose, knowing that nine times out of ten, falling like he did and by not letting go, he risked breaking his opponent's arm."

Ramo tries to embrace Salah as the Liverpool forward gets subbed off. Image: PA Images
Ramo tries to embrace Salah as the Liverpool forward gets subbed off. Image: PA Images

Jurgen Klopp's side were arguably the better side in the first half hour of the final, where Los Blancos were trying to become the first side to win the Champions League three years in-a-row, but failed to score.

Salah went off injured on 31 minutes and from there the Spaniards dominated the game, despite the English side levelling at 1-1.

The final became famous for Lloris mistakes at 0-0 and 2-1 and for Bale's wonder strike off the bench that gave Zinedine Zidane's side the lead for the second time.

Chiellini goes on to suggest that without Ramos in defence the rest of the Real 'champions' are more like 'school boys,' "The strength he transmits through his presence alone is incredible. Without Ramos, some champions like Varane, Carvajal and Marcelo seem like schoolboys. They suddenly regress. Real Madrid become a defenceless team.

"With him at the Bernabeu, you can be sure that the Spaniards wouldn't have lost to Ajax by three goals. I'd bet any money on that."

Is Chiellini right or was Ramos telling the truth? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Topics: Liverpool, Football News, Sergio Ramos, Premier League, gareth bale, Juventus, Champions League, Spain, Giorgio Chiellini, Mo Salah, Real Madrid, La Liga