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CM EXCLUSIVE: West Ham's Ogbonna backs Juventus rookie Rugani
Though the 27-year-old didn't become a keyplayer for Juventus, that doesn't mean that he hasn't got plenty of time for both Turinese sides, as well as the Hammer's impressive Premier League campaign.
Interviewed by calciomercato.com, the former Granata player told us a little about how things were going at West Ham: “We are about to enter the decisive phase of the Premier League season, and we don't feel under pressure.
"We don’t have a specific goal, we must take things day to day. There are still many games to go”.
“At the beginning, it wasn’t easy” he added, “I suffered an injury and I had to get used to a different kind of football. Only later fif I finally get the chance to play regularly. The most beautiful moment? The goal I scored against Liverpool”.
Regarding the possibility of representing Italy at France 2016 Ogbonna said: “I haven’t talked to Conte. Of course, I’m thinking about the national team, I would like to help, every player dreams of the blue jersey. Conte at Chelsea? He’s a great manager, we all know what he has achieved in football. If he calls me up, I’ll be ready”
The Cassino-born player also talked about his heir at Juve, Daniele Rugani, and his former boss at Torino Giampiero Ventura: “Rugani is having the same experience that I went through two years ago. It’s not easy to compete with a trio like Barzagli-Bonucci-Chiellini.
"It’s unfair to criticize him, he is not getting the minutes needed to express his qualities.
Ventura is a great coach, I owe him everything, and so do D’Ambrosio, Darmian, Cerci and Immobile. It could be that a cycle is ending in Turin, but Ventura can still give a lot”.
M.G, @EdoDalmonte – Adapted from an interview by Federico Zanon