Thierry Henry compares Mohamed Salah’s direct style of play to former Chelsea man Eden Hazard
Thierry Henry has likened Mohamed Salah’s dribbling skills to that of former Chelsea winger Eden Hazard.
Both attackers have career statistics to place them in the debate for the all-time greatest in the Premier League era for their specific talismanic roles. In seven years at Chelsea, the Belgian international made 352 appearances, scoring 110 and assisting 92 goals.
Salah first arrived in English football at the West London club from Basel, where he was in the shadow of Hazard and other preferred attackers. After spending time in Italy he eventually returned with Liverpool, going on to appear 312 times, scoring 190 and assisting 83 in the process.
Henry sat down with B/R Football as part of the launch of video game EA Sports FC 24, which releases today, and specifically asked about Salah’s rating in relation to his dribbling skills. On a scale of one through to 99, the developer gave the Egyptian 88.
“Only?” Henry replied in disbelief, suggesting the Reds’ No.11 had been underrated in this instance. He then went onto to describe what he liked about Salah’s individual talent with the ball, drawing upon the example of Hazard.
“I like people that go to the goal. A lot of people do stuff that I call nonsense,” the France Under-21 coach continued. “Are you going to the goal or not? When Salah takes the ball, he goes!
“I always remember one guy: Eden Hazard. That’s what I call dribbling.
“He didn’t showboat, he was going to goal. Eden, you could kick him, you could do whatever, he used to spin on people and go to goal.
“That’s for me what a dribbler is. I think that’s a bit low for Mo Salah, but primetime, I would’ve been there too.”
Hazard is currently without a club having left Real Madrid, ending a disappointing, injury-hit four years in Spain. He was most recently linked with a shock free transfer to Union Saint-Gilloise – Liverpool’s Europa League opponents at Anfield on Thursday, October 5.
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