Former Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has opened up on the toughest strikers he faced during his distinguished career.
Vidic, 37, spent eight trophy-laden years at Old Trafford as he helped the club win five Premier League titles and the Champions League.
A brief spell at Inter Milan followed before the Serb called it a day in 2016.
Vidic names a host of strikers who impacted his career for club and country and helped him progress, most notably Oliver Bierhoff, Filippo Inzaghi, Raul and Lionel Messi.
But it was at Old Trafford where he faced a host of top strikers, soon after arriving from Spartak Moscow in 2006.
Vidic told the Athletic : "My first experience was Peter Crouch. I’d never seen a two-metres tall player before. I was thinking ‘Wow, what can I do today with this guy?"
Vidic also enjoyed many duels with Didier Drogba, with the Chelsea striker famously being sent off in the 2008 Champions League final for lashing out at the defender.
On the Ivorian, Vidic adds: "He was a very clever player who would get into the brain of the defenders. Drogba was on you for the full game. I played against him when we were both at the peak of our careers.”
The former United defender went on to discuss his duels with South American pair Sergio Aguero and Luis Suarez.
Vidic said on facing Man City star Aguero: "He knows where the ball will come and where he can attack. But in the box, he has a low centre of gravity, which helps him change direction quickly, especially against the big English defenders."
The Serb also relished the opportunity to take on Suarez: "Everything is done in bursts. I don’t think he knows exactly what he’s doing but he succeeds. He’s very direct and hungry to score. He runs for 90 minutes, he has a fire in him."
