Over the course of a glittering career that has taken him from Basel to Chelsea, Roma, and ultimately to Liverpool, Mohamed Salah has faced some of the world’s best defenders. Known for his blistering pace, sharp dribbling, and clinical finishing, Salah rarely struggles to get past his man but in a recent interview with Sky Sports, the Egyptian king revealed two defenders who stood out for their exceptional ability to shut him down.
“There were a few,” Salah admitted, “but I would say Cesar Azpilicueta was tough. He eventually played as a right-back, but Azpilicueta was very tough.”
Azpilicueta, a long-serving Chelsea stalwart, built a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most consistent and versatile defenders. Whether playing centrally or out wide, his positional awareness, tackling precision, and tireless work ethic made him a formidable obstacle even for elite wingers like Salah.
But the praise didn’t stop there. Salah also highlighted another former Chelsea defender who left a lasting impression one he both played with and against.
“I played with Ashley [Cole], oh my God! The way he reads the game is unbelievable. I played with him, but I also played against him when I was at Basel,” Salah said. “He was very good at reading the game, very intelligent, and he really understood what attackers were going to do.”
Despite being relatively short for a modern full-back, Cole’s game intelligence more than made up for any physical shortcomings. Widely regarded as one of the best left-backs of his generation, Cole combined speed, timing, and an innate understanding of positioning to make life miserable for opposition wingers.
“Although he wasn’t tall, he had a deep understanding of the game, and he was tough,” Salah added. “He’s a great guy, trains well, and is also a professional you could see how high his level of skill and professionalism was.”
Coming from a player who regularly torments defenders at the highest level, Salah’s words carry real weight. For Azpilicueta and Cole, the recognition is a testament to years of hard work, discipline, and tactical intelligence qualities that continue to earn them the respect of one of football’s modern greats.
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