Juventus: Should Daniele Rugani keep his place in the starting XI vs Villarreal?

Isn’t it just remarkable that we’re having this debate? If you posed this question to Juventino even as recently as Christmas, the response would’ve been unanimous: Giorgio Chiellini all day long.

But Daniele Rugani’s stellar 2022 thus far has shifted our perceptions of Juventus’ fourth-choice defender. He was once a guy who induced anxiety among the fanbase when he stepped onto the field, with an error seemingly never too far away, but the Italian has since emerged as a cool, composed and calming figure alongside the consistently brilliant Matthijs de Ligt in defence.

Nagging injuries to veterans Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci presented Rugani with a massive opportunity, perhaps his last his Bianconeri colours, but the defender has grabbed it with both hands to resurrect his faltering career.

Daniele Rugani deserves to retain his place & start over the returning Giorgio Chiellini against Villarreal

So much so that we’ve reached the point where we’d be happy to see Rugani in Wednesday’s starting XI for the all-important Champions League clash with Villarreal despite Chiellini’s return to fitness. Chiellini has been out for over a month with a calf injury, and while the grinta fanatic has endured the odd forgettable moment this season – most notably against Hellas Verona back in October – he had been in superb touch up until his latest injury setback.

The Juve stalwart is one of the all-time great low block defenders, and Massimiliano Allegri’s reactive approach means he’ll be able to play at the highest level in Turin for as long as the wily traditionalist sticks around.

Chiellini’s been a part of some of the sport’s grandest occasions since he joined the club way back in 2004 from Livorno; from Scudetto deciders to two Champions League finals. He’s also led his country to a pair of European Championship finals, guiding them to victory at Euro 2020. Thus, it seems unfathomable for Allegri and Juventus to leave the 37-year-old out for such a crucial continental clash on Wednesday despite only just returning to fitness.

The round of 16 second leg against Villarreal is a game Juventus simply cannot lose. Following back-to-back humiliations to inferior opposition at this stage of the competition, victory is the only possible option at the Allianz Stadium. Defeat would be detrimental for Allegri, the rebuild, and the club’s now promising 2021/22 campaign.

Despite the game’s importance and Chiellini’s unrivalled CV, Rugani deserves to keep his place in the starting XI. The defender suffered an injury setback of his own in February, but he’s since returned and starred in his last two outings. He helped Juve to a clean sheet against Spezia before producing a Chiellini-esque display at the weekend in Genoa. Rugani held firm amid an aerial bombardment from Sampdoria in a 3-1 victory, ending the contest with a team-high eight clearances.

We know Rugani isn’t special, but he’s looked as good as he ever has in Juve colours since the start of 2022 alongside De Ligt. The Dutchman no longer needs to hold the Italian’s hand, and Rugani’s reward for his renaissance should be a start in the season-defining second leg against Unai Emery’s Yellow Submarine, who’ll try to outwit Juve’s backline with their absence of a bonafide frontman.

However, while Rugani is poised to earn a starting berth, don’t be surprised if we see Chiellini enter the fray if Juventus are required to preserve a lead. In fact, I think that’s almost a guarantee.