Patrice Evra's appearance on Monday Night Football garnered headlines for Jamie Carragher's admission that he and Liverpool were wrong to support Luis Suarez when he was banned for racially abusing Evra in 2011, but it overshadowed a generally very interesting performance on the show.
From a wider conversation about racism in the game, to calling Arsenal "babies" after their defeat to Sheffield United, to picking his Manchester United/Juventus XI, Evra was definitely an satisfying change of pace on the programme. It was his answer to a viewer question though that was perhaps the strangest and most surprising of the night. Who was the most difficult opponent the former full-back faced in his career?
The answer was not Lionel Messi, but Liverpool midfielder James Milner, and there was a special mention for Aaron Lennon!
The best player @Evra has ever played against?
Yep, you got it @JamesMilner 💪 pic.twitter.com/5rE0MMrIVj— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 21, 2019
"I played against Messi many times, and in the wide position, I won't he's easy to mark but I could deal with him."
Evra claims that Milner was a bigger pain for him than the Barcelona because, as an attacking defender, he would constantly be on his back.
He was following me everywhere. And he was challenging me in the air. I just get frustrated sometimes, I was talking to him, like, 'Just go and attack! Leave me alone!'
And when I was playing the derby against Manchester City, I had him. He went to Liverpool, and I had him again. For me, the one who frustrates me the most is James Milner.
He also had a special mention for former Spurs winger Aaron Lennon, now with Burnley.
Of course, Lennon is the kind of player, that if I wasn't 100% fit, he would run behind me and defenders hate when players run behind. So Lennon, with his quick movement, it was difficult to play against him.
SEE ALSO: Forgotten Man Adam Lallana Shows Type Of Fight Liverpool Will Need For Title Run
