Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has been playing in the Premier League for years, so the 35-year-old has had the chance to go up against many incredible footballers, including some from Chelsea.
And speaking to United’s official club website, Jonny Evans has shared that one Blues legend is one of the toughest players he has ever taken on.
The Northern Irishman has come up against Chelsea teams that have included the likes of Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Didier Drogba.
His United side welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford on 6 December.
Jonny Evans on his three toughest opponents
Evans has named Drogba as one of the hardest forwards he has ever had to come up against.
When naming the three most difficult players he has ever faced, the former Leicester City man told United’s official club website: “I would probably say I’ve played against some good strikers over the years and Luis Suarez would have been up there when he was at Liverpool.
“In the Brendan Rodgers team, when they had him and [Daniel] Sturridge up front as well, they were very dangerous. Drogba. And I’d probably have to put [Sergio] Aguero up there too.”
Didier Drogba a Chelsea and Premier League great
Evans’ response is not the most surprising. A lot of defenders who played in the Premier League during Drogba’s day would probably say the same thing. He is an absolute legend of the competition and a Chelsea icon.
At the peak of his powers, there was not a centre-half in the country who could stop Drogba.
His 2009/10 season was truly an unforgettable one, with the former striker scoring 29 goals and providing 10 assists to help Chelsea to win the Premier League title.
Even towards the end of his career, Drogba was still too much to handle at times.
After leaving Chelsea in 2012 after the club’s famous Champions League triumph in Munich, the Ivorian returned to Stamford Bridge a couple of years later. During his second spell in west London, he actually scored against Evans’ United side in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford and helped the Blues to claim the 2014/15 Premier League title.
Drogba was truly a world-class centre-forward.
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