2 hours ago
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Jermaine Pennant has doubled down on his view that Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in Premier League history.
Pennant's comments earlier this week caused a stir, when he suggested that Van Dijk's longevity contributes to him being the No.1 Premier League center-back of all time.
"Look at the age of Van Dijk now... he's 34," Pennant said. "At 34, Rio [Ferdinand] was at Queens Park Rangers, while Van Dijk is at Liverpool playing competitive football, playing Champions League and still scoring.
"Do you know how many Premier League games John Terry played at 34... he was in the under 21s. Terry is a legend but if you're saying as a defender one v one, who would I want to run up against, I'd say John Terry everyday of the week. I mean, since when did he come second in the Ballon d'Or?"
Terry issued a response, urging Pennant to check his fact as the former England captain pointed out that he played in all 38 of Chelsea's top-flight games during the 2014-15 season – the season he turned 34 years old – as the Stamford Bridge club won the Premier League.
"This is a debate that everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but 'Pens', when you're on the radio and you're giving your opinion, you have to get the stats right," Terry said.
"There's only one person who has got the most goals as a defender in Premier League history and that's me. I also have the most clean sheets in history and if you're comparing myself and Virgil, then I have more trophies than him as well.
"Also, you brought up a really good point. At the age of 34, in the season of 2014-15, I played every single minute of every game for Chelsea, winning the league in that season with Mourinho as our manager.
"So guys, this is over to you, I love the debate, I love being amongst it, I'm really proud of what I've done in the Premier League, but it's clearly over to you guys to settle the debate... I'm just happy to be amongst it."
Pennant has now responded to Terry's riposte, overlooking his original factual error, but sticking to his belief that Van Dijk is at the top of the pile.
"I ain't got JT's cabinet, so I can't find my Community Shield medals or my FA Cup runners' up medals either," Pennant said. "This [Champions League runner's up medal] is my retaliation!
"Listen, let's get something straight here. JT, one of England's greatest centre-backs without shadow of a doubt, but my argument is that it's not about what you've won in your career.
"We're not talking about who's won what in what career. Yes, he's won more trophies – Scott Carson's won four Premier League titles and the Champions League. Does it make him better than Alisson?"
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