‘I couldn’t have done that’ – Rio Ferdinand in awe of what Spurs legend did against Liverpool

Rio Ferdinand was astounded when Ledley King revealed that he once played for Tottenham against Liverpool without having trained or played for seven months.

Many acknowledge that King could have potentially become one of the best in the world if he had not suffered crippling injuries during the second half of his career.

The Tottenham man had multiple operations on his knee and eventually got to a point where he could not train as his knee would swell up if he exerted himself.

In the final few seasons of his career, the centre-back would often play games without training and he would still be one of the best players on the pitch, such as the natural talent that he possessed.

Rio Ferdinand is in awe of Tottenham’s Ledley King

The former Spurs captain was a guest on Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five podcast this week and he revealed that ahead of the game he played at Anfield in May 2011, he had not been able to play for seven months.

King said: “There was one time, it was after the World Cup, I had a groin problem I couldn’t shake off. Every time I moved, something was doing that. Ended up having a hernia operation. I always just forced myself back as soon as I felt like I was almost ready. 

“Sat on the bench after three months, we played in the Champions League. AC Milan, I sat on the bench. Kicking the ball in the warm-up, so I’m sitting on the bench knowing that the manager can’t bring me on. I had to tell him, of course. But that’s how much I wasn’t ready to be involved. Was out for seven months in total, trained once, went to Anfield to watch and Harry asked me to play an hour and a half before the game.”

Ferdinand responded: “You won 2-0? Wow! I’m going to say that I reckon there aren’t any other centre-halves other than Paul McGrath that can do that. I couldn’t have done that, I’m telling you for a fact.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I remember that game quite distinctly since it was the last time that Spurs won at Anfield and King was an absolute colossus in that game. He hardly gave Luiz Suarez, who was at the peak of his powers at the time, a kick all game.

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