Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini believes the desire to replicate the style of play associated with Pep Guardiola has had a detrimental effect on defenders in Italy.
The centre-back, 33, explained why he feels his compatriots need to get back to basics and work on producing more great defenders for the country to be proud of.
“Pep Guardiola spoiled and ruined the Italian defender,” Chiellini told the Daily Mail.
“He is a fantastic coach with a fantastic mind but Italian trainers have tried to copy him without the same knowledge and then in the last 10 years, we lost our identity.