Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has admitted that he preferred watching former Chelsea attacker Eden Hazard as a kid and wanted to be more like the Belgian rather than his current teammate Mohamed Salah.
Hazard enjoyed a scintillating stint in the Premier League with Chelsea where he won two league titles, one FA Cup and one Europa League crown. He then moved to Real Madrid where he was plagued by persistent injuries and has since retired.
Salah on the other hand, is currently enjoying one of his best ever seasons in a Liverpool shirt, with the Egyptian at the forefront of the Reds’ Premier League and Champions League charge.
Giving his thoughts on the iconic duo in an interview with former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, Jones took the risk of attracting the ire of Liverpool fans by surprisingly picking Hazard as the better footballer over Reds talisman Salah.
“I know we compare him with Mo all the time and I’ve been into it with Mo. I play it from, who I saw as a kid when I loved the game and I wanted to be like a player. I feel like it was Hazard. Every game, I’d watch him…’wow, that’s football.’
“I wouldn’t say he’s disrespected, but he wouldn’t come into certain talks that he should.
“It’s a talk I’ve had with Mo and all the lads. As a footballer, is he better than Mo? In my opinion, yes. But who would you rather have in your team? They’re going to say Mo because he gets you your goals and assists.”
Ferdinand on his part explained that he preferred watching Hazard but would choose Salah for a team aiming to win games, with Jones concurring;
“Yeah, exactly. It’s as simple as that.”
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
