Michail Antonio has admitted that he was taken aback by how fast a certain Manchester City midfielder was.
The West Ham United striker has had the pleasure of facing several legendary City midfielders over the years.
Having signed for the Hammers in 2015, he has faced every single midfielder at the Etihad Stadium who would be classed as a Premier League great.
One of them is Yaya Toure but he perhaps saw him on his last legs.
Even then, the Ivorian’s quality was undeniable.
Michail Antonio has also been on the same pitch as David Silva.
A player Erling Haaland expressed his desire to play with, who was an absolute magician for club and country.
The Spaniard was well and truly a genius and Pablo Zabaleta claimed that he was up there with Lionel Messi as one of the best players he has ever played with.
Michail Antonio stunned by how “rapid” Man City midfielder was
Michail Antonio has also seen Bernardo Silva put on masterclasses against West Ham.
In September, when City beat West Ham 3-1, it was the Portuguese international who scored the winner with the help of an acrobatic finish and ran the show.
Fernandinho is another player who perhaps stopped Michail Antonio from running at Manchester City’s defence on several instances.
The same can be said for Rodri nowadays.
However, none of these players barring Yaya Toure and Fernandinho would be associated with being pacey.
Kevin De Bruyne, however, was, according to Michail Antonio when in a certain game, he was stunned to see how quick he was.
Tom Cairney said on the Footballer’s Football Podcast, “He’s just dynamic though as well, isn’t he? He can run past people, man.”
“Honestly, Rickie [Haywood-Williams], he’s so fast. I can’t explain to you yet. He’s a powerful boy.”
Michail Antonio recalled when he realised how fast Kevin De Bruyne was, saying, “He is rapid! I got the ball, edge of our box, pinned in and I saw him and I was like, yeah, I saw a stretch of grass, man’s just going to knock this. It’s Kev [Kevin De Bruyne], it’s not Kyle Walker, it’s just like no problem!”
“Mate, I’ve knocked it. Obviously, I’ve got it but he was there! I was like, ‘What on Earth is this?’
Tom Cairney, “I don’t think people understand that honestly.”
Cairney was quizzed whether the £54.5 million man was only quick over 10 years or if he could sustain his speed over larger distances.
“He can sustain it. He’s just a powerful boy. He kicks it so hard as well, how hard does he kick it?”
Antonio said, “Yeah. Powerhouse. The guy is quick.”
Michail Antonio raises a key point about Kevin De Bruyne
Perhaps many would not assume that Kevin De Bruyne was not particularly fast until Michail Antonio and even Tom Cairney said so.
The Belgian is a creative player and that is how is widely viewed by fans and pundits alike.
But De Bruyne, in our view is quite an underrated athlete.
As Antonio revealed, the 32-year-old is very quick with the ball at his feet, which allows him to burst past players while dribbling and press opposition teams at will.
In addition, Kevin De Bruyne is quite stocky in terms of his frame, which makes it quite hard to push him off the ball.
De Bruyne’s impeccable technique is his biggest strength but being a top athlete gives him an edge over the rest.