Liverpool midfielder James Milner burst into peals of laughter after being told that former Manchester United star Patrice Evra had labelled him his toughest ever opponent.
The Frenchman recently revealed that Milner’s seeming refusal to attack would frustrate him when they’d face each other in Manchester derbies.
However, Milner’s reaction wasn’t exactly what you’d expect. After cracking up after being told about Evra’s comment at the Reds’ pre match press conference on Tuesday, he issued his reply.
“Players?,” he said, as per the Daily Mail. “I don’t know really, it’s hard to name one [toughest opponent] obviously but it’s nice to know Patrice thought I was a nuisance.”
OPINION
Of all the players Evra has come up against over the years he’s called Milner his toughest opponent. That’s quite the feather in the cap of the former England international. The Frenchman has faced players like Lionel Messi, Eden Hazard, Didier Drogba etc., but it’s Milner who frustrated him the most. Obviously the Liverpool star isn’t as talented a footballer as any of the above three men, but his unmatched work rate and his impeccable tactical acumen make him a nightmare opponent for opposition players. Milner obviously found the remark rather humorous, perhaps finding it bizarre that Evra listed him as his toughest opponent. He knows as well as anyone that he’s not the most naturally gifted player, which is likely why Evra’s comments elicited this response from him. Milner himself refused to name his toughest opponent, but he clearly appreciated that he gave the former Man United star such problems.
