Gary Neville has named Michael Essien and Louis Saha as his most underrated Premier League players, in a discussion about three decades of the new top flight.
Former Manchester United star Neville named the pair – including former Red Devil Saha – as the people who came to mind about the unsung heroes he faced while playing.
Essien spent eight years at Chelsea, working in a packed Blues midfield working alongside players like Frank Lampard in his time at Stamford Bridge, where he won two Premier League titles.
Speaking to Sky Sports in response to a fan question, the 47-year-old pundit said: ‘A player that played at a top Premier League club and didn’t get the plaudits of others was Michael Essien at Chelsea in those first two or three years. The impact he had on that team, from his running ability, the energy from midfield, balancing of Frank, I thought Essien was a brilliant player.’
The Ghanaian played for Real Madrid, AC Milan and Panathaniakos before retiring in 2020. He now coaches in Denmark with FC Nordsjaelland.
Saha played for a number of Premier League sides, signing for United from Fulham in 2004, and playing alongside Neville at Old Trafford for four years.
Credit: dailymail.co.uk
