Wayne Rooney believes Ricardo Carvalho was one of the top defenders at Chelsea
Wayne Rooney lists Ricardo Carvalho as one of the most underrated defenders in Chelsea history
When you talk about Chelsea’s golden period, then you usually mention a few names first. These will be the players associated with John Terry, Petr Cech, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba. While there is one name, as per Wayne Rooney, that doesn’t get mentioned as much, that name is Ricardo Carvalho.
The Portuguese central defender made his move to Chelsea in 2004. Carvalho was an exceptional defender who had the full set of smartness and poise to defend at the highest level. Rooney said on BBC Sport that Carvalho is one of the toughest defenders he ever faced in the UCL, ranking him fourth overall. That alone says plenty about the man’s quality.
The defender wasn’t the loud leader or the headline grabber. He just read the game like a master. The relationship between him and Terry was great. Thus, the defensive duo had constructed a defensive wall which was almost impossible to breakdown.
A defender built for any era
Carvalho may have been in Terry’s shadow, but he was world-class in his own right. He was quick across the ground, sharp in tackles, and brave enough to play out from the back. In today’s game, where ball-playing centre-backs are prized, he’d be right up there with the best. His football brain made him a nightmare for forwards like Rooney. The striker admitted how tricky it was to find space against him.
Chelsea’s defence back then was a different beast. They were organized, fearless, and built to win. In contrast to the present backline, it’s not hard to see why that’s what fans miss. Carvalho may not have been a main man, but fans know how good he was.
Author’s Opinion:
Rooney’s compliment of Carvalho isn’t just lip service, it’s the truth. The Portuguese defender was one of those rare players who made being great look easy. Chelsea may never have another like him.
As featured on Chelseanews.com
