‘He was tough’… Paul Ince now claims Chelsea legend was a harder opponent than Roy Keane

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Former Manchester United and Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince has been speaking about how difficult it was going up against one Chelsea legend back in the day.

During his career, Ince faced some really tough opponents, including Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira.

But it is an ex-Chelsea star who gave him his hardest games on the football pitch.

Fast forward to now, and there are not too many players in Chelsea’s squad capable of really shutting down a top attacker.

Maybe Reece James, but he has been injured for most of the season, while Thiago Silva‘s lack of pace will always make him vulnerable in certain situations.

Paul Ince names Chelsea legend as toughest opponent

Defensively, Chelsea have been so poor this season, especially of late.

The Blues conceded two goals against a Sheffield United side destined for relegation last time out, while they let Ince’s former club Manchester United score three times against them at Stamford Bridge.

How Mauricio Pochettino could do with a centre-back like Marcel Desailly right now, with Ince naming him as his hardest opponent.

When asked about the toughest opponent he has come up against, the former midfielder said on talkSPORT: “I’ve had a few. Keany, Steven Gerrard, Vieira but I’d probably say Desailly. He was tough.”

Speaking about one specific game in detail, Ince went on to add: “He just cracked me. I thought, ‘wow’. I thought I’d been hit by a juggernaut. It was the toughest game I’ve had. We were always going into each other, head-to-head. It was tough, tough man.”

The closest player Chelsea have to Marcel Desailly

Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana are all Desailly’s compatriots, but none come close to the legendary French defender.

Silva, a world-class centre-half in his own right, is probably the only current Chelsea star you can compare to him.

The Brazilian has done so well at AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, three of the biggest clubs in the world.

Across his three spells at those European giants, Silva has made 581 appearances, showing his longevity at the top.

Silva’s contract expires in the summer and Pochettino says the club are yet to discuss his future.