‘This guy was different’: World Cup ace names Liverpool star as his toughest opponent ever

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Weston McKennie has hailed Thiago Alcantara whilst naming the Liverpool star as his most difficult opponent to date.

The World Cup is taking centre stage right now but Liverpool star Thiago isn’t involved.

To the surprise of many, Spain have decided to leave Liverpool midfielder Thiago at home, seemingly believing that they can do without him.

Injuries are a constant problem for Thiago but there is little doubting his quality on the ball in the middle of the park.

Weston McKennie has hailed Thiago Alcantara

Thiago may not be involved in the showpiece event over in Qatar but Weston McKennie certainly is having been called up by the United States.

McKennie has been struggling with an injury for Juventus but USA still felt that he could make a difference in Qatar.

McKennie started for USA in their 1-1 draw against Wales on Monday.

This wasn’t McKennie’s best performance though and he was the first player substituted by the US in the second half.

McKennie will be hoping to show his quality at the World Cup, especially with Premier League clubs allegedly interested in signing him.

The former Schalke ace spoke to former United States international Kyle Martino for Kwik Goal ahead of his World Cup bow.

McKennie was asked to name his toughest opponent to date and he decided to go with Thiago.

The pair locked horns in Germany with McKennie featuring for Schalke and Thiago playing a key role for Bayern Munich.

McKennie was just blown away by Thiago, suggesting that he was simply ‘different’ to anything he had faced in midfield before.

The American noted that he couldn’t win the ball off Thiago or even anticipate his moves, believing that he was just impossible to press.

“My hardest opponent I’ve played against was probably Thiago, back when he was at Bayern,” said McKennie. “This guy was different. You couldn’t win the ball off him, you couldn’t anticipate him, he had an out in every situation, he knew his surroundings like he literally had eyes in the back of his head. He was unpressable and I know because I was the guy that was trying to press him! It was hard, for sure,” he added.

Liverpool have seen those qualities first hand and McKennie won’t be the last midfielder to struggle to track Thiago in the engine room.