I played against Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and Steven Gerrard, but the Chelsea giant was the toughest opponent I faced.
Paul Ince is one of football's best-known tough guys, but even he was physically affected during his career.
first manchester united, LiverpoolWest Ham and England midfielder played against some of the toughest men in football in a career spanning almost 20 years in tough, prepared English football.
He has faced several players who were mustard, including Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira, however, was in Italy where 'the Guv'nor' found his rival.
It came during his two years with Inter Milan during a Milan derby, where Ince admitted to being in shock after being crushed by World Cup winner Marcel Desailly, who then enjoyed an excellent six-year spell with Chelsea.
Ince may have dealt the first blow during Inter's clash with AC Milan, but he admitted Desailly's response made him feel like he had been hit by a monster.
When asked by Drive on talkSPORT who was the toughest opponent he had faced, Ince replied: “I've had a few. Keany, Steven Gerrard, Vieira, but I'd probably say Desailly. He was tough.
“When I was at AC Milan. Before the Milan derby we had to do a big photo shoot, Desailly and I with our mouths open roaring at a big advertising billboard in Milan.
“We had to go to this warehouse, but he refused because he was in AC and I was in Inter. I don't know if he doesn't like me or something like that, but we didn't go.
“Quarter to eight, kickoff, first inning. I completely melted him. I melted him. I turned him upside down and yelled, 'Get up, get up!' Then he looked at me.
“About ten minutes later it just hit me. I thought, 'wow'. I thought I'd been hit by a monster.
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“It was the hardest game I've ever had. We were always going at each other, face to face. He was a very, very tough man.”
Ince left Inter in 1997 to join Liverpool, while Desailly joined Chelsea as world champions in 1998.
His reputation preceded him: he twice won the European Cup with victors Milan and 'Le Rock' formed a tough partnership with Frank Lebouef and won the FA Cup in 2000.
He was also responsible for the development of John Terry, who was then rising through the youth ranks and becoming one of the greatest players in Chelsea's history.
