Former Arsenal Manchester City star Oleksandr Zinchenko opened up about modern Liverpool legend, Mohamed Salah
Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko has called Mohamed Salah the toughest opponent he has ever faced – and his Liverpool team-mate has helped the Egyptian.
Zinchenko was asked by Rio Ferdinand during a chat on the former Manchester United defender’s YouTube channel FIVE about which player caused him the most trouble on the pitch. Former Man City star chose Salah.
And in a revealing reply, Zinchenko explained why, referring to the role of former Reds midfielder Gini Wijnaldum, who left the club two years ago to join Paris Saint-Germain, where he is now are being disgraced.
Zinchenko also recalled a conversation he had with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, when he was assistant coach to Pep Guardiola at City, during the 2019 Community Shield against Liverpool at Wembley. Guardiola’s side won 5-4 on penalties after drawing 1-1 after 90 minutes.
Zinchenko scored one of City’s penalties – Wijnaldum was the only player to miss – but he will never forget the time spent with Salah, the modern Anfield legend, who now has 186 goals and 74 decisive assists in 305 appearances for the club.
“I think it’s Salah, I think it’s Salah,” the 26-year-old told Ferdinand. “With all due respect to others, to Riyad (Mahrez) as well as because I played against him when he was at Leicester (City). He (Salah) is an absolutely explosive winger and unstoppable.
“What Liverpool did well, especially when Wijnaldum was there, because Wijnaldum was more of a box-to-box… Community Shield against Liverpool on penalties, we won that game. Mikel was still there and I went into the dressing room after half-time and said: ‘Mikel, what do I do with this?’
“‘(Virgil) Van Dijk has the ball, he plays left and right foot, no pressure, he touches the ball first, Wijnaldum runs behind between me and (Nicolas] Otamendi) I have to defend inside, Salah fell wide, the ball was at his feet and the distance between me and Salah was about 50 meters Imagine his rhythm against me, I finished. What should I do in the first half? There are five balls like this in a row.
“He said, ‘the only way is to ask Raz (Sterling) who is playing on the left, to come back a little lower and let Trent leave the pitch.’ If he stays with Salah, that’s a big gap for Wijnaldum. And when Mohamed Mohamed get the ball at his feet and he’s up to speed, it’s impossible, impossible.
