Jermaine Pennant accused of ‘bottling it’ after speaking to John Terry over Virgil van Dijk debate

Jermaine Pennant revealed he has spoken to John Terry after igniting the debate over who is the better centre-back between him and Virgil van Dijk

Sports Bar host Jamie O’Hara even jokingly accused the ex-Liverpool man of ‘bottling it’ over their conversation.

O’Hara and Pennant opened up a can of worms on Monday night on talkSPORT when they brought up the debate on the greatest centre-back in Premier League history.

Pennant threw his backing behind Van Dijk, while O’Hara put up an impassioned defence of Terry.

And O’Hara referenced the topic on Wednesday, kicking off with: “We’re on the Sports Bar on Monday. Caused a bit of a storm on social media out of nowhere. We’re talking about some of the greatest centre-backs of the Premier League era.

“We’re debating whether Virgil van Dijk is better than John Terry. Now, it’s gone absolutely everywhere this week.”

As Pennant bigged up Liverpool skipper, Terry took it upon himself to clap back at the 43-year-old.

Terry hits back at Pennant

The former Chelsea man posted a video on TikTok in front of his impressive trophy collection, demanding that the former Reds winger ‘get his stats right’ before weighing into the debate.

“I just got back from working at Chelsea today, minding my own business but I’ve been sent this over by a hundred various people throughout the day,” Terry started in response to talkSPORT.

“Jamie O’Hara, who had my back by the way and Jermaine Penant on talkSPORT this afternoon debating who’s better – myself, Rio, Vidic or Virgil Van Dijk.

“Now 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.

“There’s only one person who has got the most goals as a defender in Premier League history and that’s me.

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“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 for your thoughts

The debate rumbled on on Wednesday night, however, as Pennant jumped on to The Sports Bar with O’Hara and Cundy to hit back at Terry.

And Pennant did so while sat in a Liverpool shirt with a Liverpool scarf pinned up against a white wall and his Champions League runners’ up medal around his neck.

“I ain’t got JT’s cabinet, so I can’t find my Community Shield medals or my FA Cup runners’ up medals either. This is my retaliation!” the former winger hilariously began.

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And when asked by O’Hara if he still backed Van Dijk over Terry in this debate, Pennant replied: “Listen, let’s get something straight here. JT, one of England’s greatest centre-backs without shadow of a doubt.

“He’s had a fantastic career, world class player, absolutely, you can’t argue with that. 100 per cent is up there.

“But my argument is 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 in Champions League. Does it make him better than Alisson?

“And yes, he’s got more clean sheets, but you got to put into perspective who is alongside him. John Terry’s had his partners as a centre-back. We’ll talk about centre-backs. We look about their partners, who they’re with.

“We’ll go Rio, we go Vidic. We go Terry, we go Carvalho. Terry’s partnerships throughout his career at Chelsea have been Carvalho, 100 per cent up there.

“William Gallas, again another top class defender. Marcel Desailly, absolute legend in his own right as a defender. Gary Cahill.”

The Main Van

Pennant then went on the offensive in his backing of Van Dijk, continuing: “Now let’s compare that with what Virgil’s had to work with. He’s had to work with Joe Gomez, Matip, Jordan Henderson, Rhys Williams, and Nat Phillips. And now he’s got Konate.

“And while he’s doing all of that, he’s the only defender in history to win UEFA’s Player of the Year award, surpassing Ronaldo and Messi.

“And most people can say that Messi is probably the greatest player since Diego Maradona.”

Statistically speaking

Pennant then got the spreadsheet out to read out the numbers backing up Van Dijk, adding: “And if you want to go on stats, we can can go on stats. I know JT loves stats. I’m going to get these ones right.

“Since Opta started their stats in 2004, aerial duels success rate. First, Virgil van Dijk; 75.5 per cent. Second is Vidic, 73.5 per cent. Terry 68 per cent.

“Ground duel success rate,” to which O’Hara interjected with: “You’re clutching at straws here, Jammer!”

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Cundy then added: “I wish you did this much research when I worked on the sports market!”

Pennant relented, highlighting that Van Dijk was top, Ferdinand was second and Terry was third for the metric.

“The people who are supporting Terry is yourself, Jamie, and a lot of Chelsea fans,” Pennant said.

“You want to hear it from ex-pros, who are top world class defenders. people like Rio Ferdinand who said Virgil van Dijk is better.

“Vincent Kompany has come out and said Virgil is probably better than John Terry. Sol Campbell, Tony Adams, Martin Keown. These are legends in their own right. These are legends in the game. I will take their opinion over fans, over you, who do not play in defence.”

“It’s a matter of opinion. Some will say Virgil, some will say John Terry. John Terry’s had a better career because he’s won more trophies.”

Virgil van Twerk

Cundy then threw his backing behind Terry, replying: “Let me tell you now, I’m saying this genuinely, he is the best centre-half I’ve ever seen.

“Was he the quickest? No. I never saw him get caught out position. I hardly ever saw him get done for pace. I’m not saying it didn’t happen. Hardly ever.

“I watch John Terry tackle, right? Go in. The game is different now. Virgil van Dijk tries to nick things, right? When was the last time you saw John Terry twerking when trying to defend. He doesn’t twerk, he tackles.”

And with the weekend’s Premier League action right around the corner, we’re unlikely to have heard the end of this debate.

Bottled it?

Pennant also revealed that he has spoken to Terry about the debate.

Pennant said: “I’ve already spoken JT. I said you’re a great defender.”

O’Hara: “So you absolutely bottled it.”

Pennant added: “No, but I’m not disputing he’s not a great defender. I said he’s a great defender.”