West Ham attacker Mohammed Kudus will likely be the best player many defenders come up against but a Man United star is his.
West Ham’s games against Manchester United this season had very different outcomes.
At home the Hammers beat the Red Devils 2-0 with goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus.
At Old Trafford last month Manchester United got a measure of revenge, running out 3-0 winners over West Ham – a result that was harsh on David Moyes’ side.
Alejandro Garnacho had contrasting games in those two clashes.
West Ham star Kudus names best player he has faced
At the London Stadium Garnacho wasted a gilt-edged chance to put Man United ahead against the Hammers.
And West Ham’s holy trinity of Bowen, Lucas Paqueta – with that sublime assist – and Kudus made him pay.
Manchester United’s Argentine winger proved the difference in the reverse fixture, though, scoring twice.
But he was not the only player who stood out for one Hammers ace.
West Ham’s Kudus has named a Man United star often mocked by fans as the best he’s faced but warns Garnacho.
Big compliment for Shaw but a warning for Garnacho
Speaking to The Guardian, Kudus has named Manchester United’s Luke Shaw as the best player he has come up against.
Shaw is often the subject of abuse from opposition fans over his physique after infamous comments from Jose Mourinho questioning his fitness, ambition and commitment.
The England defender even had a pie thrown at him when taking a corner during one match as fans sang ‘who ate all the pies’.
So it’s some compliment from Kudus given the players he has come up against for club and country.
But he has playfully warned Shaw’s teammates Garnacho and co they’ll have to pay taxes if they copy his celebration again – as they did when scoring against West Ham at Old Trafford.
Kudus the tax man
“I just thought about something out of the box and then some other people followed it up,” Kudus says.
“Now there’s a conversation about whose is better. I’ll have to come up with another juice and put more spices in the tin. It’s all about resting after scoring a goal.
“There’s no deeper meaning. I just see it as entertainment, something to make people happy and worth the ticket that they bought. I’m still just having fun in the playground.”
“They’re allowed to do it,” the Hammers ace says when asked whether he noticed Manchester United players copying him when West Ham lost at Old Trafford in January.
“But soon they will have to start paying taxes.”