In a striking turn of events, Newcastle United’s midfield talent, Lewis Miley, found himself enjoying an evening reminiscent of defending legend Paolo Maldini. The unusual defensive outing against Chelsea saw Miley, typically more accustomed to the midfield, stepping into the right-back position, a decision prompted by the unavailability of Tino Livramento, Kieran Trippier, and Emil Krafth.
Despite this being only his second match in the role—following a promising performance in the League Cup quarter-final victory over Fulham, where he even found the net—Miley caught the eye with his defensive prowess. His efforts did not go unnoticed, as former England international Joe Cole drew parallels between Miley’s performance and that of the iconic Italian defender, Paolo Maldini.
During the Premier League clash, Miley nearly added a goal to his account, rising highest in the box only to narrowly miss the target. Yet, it was his composed defensive display that earned widespread approval. His encounter with Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho epitomised this, as Miley elegantly kept the winger at bay. The 19-year-old displayed an impressive understanding of space and timing, allowing Garnacho to dribble while maintaining control of the situation, eventually leading the ball out of play without committing to a tackle.
Joe Cole praised Miley, remarking, “I’m going to throw a name out here, Paolo Maldini defended like that. He looked like, player’s dribbling at him, he was the one that was in control. He knew he had Garnacho’s number there. Fantastic defending.” Ally McCoist, who once faced Maldini on the pitch, acknowledged Miley’s potential but noted he had “a little way to go.”
Miley’s performance was a textbook example of Maldini’s famous philosophy: “If I have to make a tackle, then I have already made a mistake.” Indeed, Miley rarely needed to tackle, expertly managing Garnacho’s energy and exploiting the crucial moment to assert his strength.
Commentator Peter Crouch, speaking at half-time, suggested that Miley had “bullied” the young Chelsea winger, a sentiment further evidenced when Miley disrupted Garnacho again in the box, swiftly clearing the ball following a deft interception.
Miley’s burgeoning reputation at Newcastle continues to grow, leaving fans and pundits alike excited about his development and versatility on the pitch.