Once upon a time, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira ruled the Premier League midfield like bosses. These two legends from Manchester United and Arsenal were like fire on the pitch, scaring the living daylights out of any opponent who dared to cross their paths. Even a rising star like Steven Gerrard had to work extra hard to match their level of play.
In a recent podcast with Rio Ferdinand, Gerrard spilled the beans about facing off against Keane and Vieira at their peak. He admitted that it was a whole different ball game trying to keep up with these midfield monsters when he was just a young lad trying to make a name for himself in the football world. “I didn’t feel like a real man back then. I was still growing, both physically and skill-wise. It was tough going up against Keane and Vieira because they were like machines,” Gerrard confessed.
The Liverpool legend went on to explain what made Keane and Vieira so darn good. According to him, it’s not just about scoring goals or making assists. It’s about the nitty-gritty details of the game, like leadership, positioning, and overall performance. “Keane was always in the right place at the right time. He was tough as nails and could run circles around you. His passing game was top-notch, and he knew how to score when it mattered most,” Gerrard praised.
