Giorgio Chiellini is introduced by Los Angeles FC during a news conference last June (Picture: Getty)
Italy legend Giorgio Chiellini discusses becoming something of an anti-hero for English fans, his new life at Los Angeles FC and the move to the Premier League that got away.
You moved to the United States last June and lifted the MLS Cup five months later. What has your time there been like as the new season gets under way with LAFC as defending champions?
It was the longest off-season of my career but I have time to prepare and I know the club now and my team-mates and what to expect during the next year.
What is important is we continue to be hungry and continue to try to find new energy, it’s not easy because after every win it’s normal to relax a little bit and we have to avoid that.
We have Champions League, Campeones Cup (against the Mexican champions) and Leagues Cup (against Mexican teams) and we have some changes to the roster and it will not be so easy but we have to focus on what we can do. I’m nearly 39 and I’m curious to discover new things.
How much of a change was it after 18 years at Juventus?
Chiellini during an invitational match between LAFC and Toronto FC in Indio, California. (Picture: Getty Images)
I think I understood the league, I think I needed more time to understand the city because LA is too big! It’s a huge move and there are many things to find out but now me and my family are settled and I am very happy.
The people at the club helped me a lot. It was weird at the beginning with the weather. The games in Nashville and Kansas City were too hot for me! It was like a pre-season temperature, not a league game.
Did you think the chance to play abroad had gone?
I love to travel, to discover new places and new cultures. That’s something I missed in my career. In the past I talked about trying different leagues and different countries but I was lucky to be at Juventus and in the two or three ‘sliding doors’ of my career I was lucky to stay. Now I can see my past and I helped write the history of the club.
What else was on the table?
I had some offers from MLS. The club, the manager, the coach and the ownership convinced me to choose this club. I wanted to also find a club that could help me prepare for my future in sport business. I have a degree and I would like to work in soccer as a manager and here I have found the best possible place, the ownership were so kind and nice and (LAFC coach) Steve [Cherundolo] called me to tell me what he thought about what I could give to the team.
Chiellini grabs Saka’s shirt in the European Championship final at Wembley …read more
Source:: Metro
