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Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has revealed his toughest ever defensive opponent throughout a glittering career.
Wayne Rooney has unveiled his list of the five toughest defenders he faced during his career in the Champions League.
Speaking on his podcast, the Manchester United legend confirmed what many elite attackers believe about defending outside of England's top flight, claiming the centre-backs he faced in the competition were “nastier” and “smarter” than their counterparts in the Premier League.
Rooney, who made 88 appearances for United on the way to winning the 2008 final, based his selections on sheer difficulty and intelligence.
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Rooney’s Top 5 Toughest Champions League Defenders
No. 5: Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan)
No. 4: Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea)
No. 3: Paolo Maldini (AC Milan)
No. 2: Gerard Piqué (Manchester United/Barcelona)
No. 1: John Terry (Chelsea)
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Rooney’s pick for number one was John Terry, the Chelsea captain whose infamous slip and missed penalty ultimately allowed United to win the dramatic 2008 final in Moscow.
Terry is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, and arguably Chelsea's greatest ever player.