English coach Neil Warnock recently visited talkSPORT radio and revealed that he had missed Van Dijk and Drogba. Warnock said: "I was very eager to sign a central defender when I was at Crystal Palace. At that time, someone recommended a player...
English coach Neil Warnock recently visited talkSPORT radio and revealed that he had missed Van Dijk and Drogba.
Warnock said: "I was very eager to sign a central defender when I was at Crystal Palace. At that time, someone recommended a player from the Scottish League. In the Celtics, my assistant coach Ronnie Jepsson went to the inspection and said, "Yes, boss, he is a good seedling, you can win it for only three to four million pounds.'."
"So I reported to the club chairman at that time, but at that time all the teams started to do data analysis. Two or three young men stared at the computer all day to study various data indicators. The next day, the president replied: 'I'm sorry Neil, we decided to give up signing'. I asked the reason, and he replied that the data analysis team thought the player's speed was not up to standard."
"I immediately refuted: 'He is really not fast, because there is no need for speed in Scotland! His game reading can He was extremely powerful and could defend steadily. "
"In the end we missed the signing. Later, he transferred to Southampton for three to four million pounds, and joined Liverpool to win all the honors."
Warnock revealed that when the two met many years later, the Dutch defender was still worried about being rejected by Crystal Palace: "When I coached against Liverpool in Cardiff City, he came to me and said, 'You could have signed me back then.' I responded with a smile: 'Of course I know. But I bet you must be glad you are now for not meeting the speed standard back then! 'He would laugh immediately, because to be honest, I think he really wanted to come to Crystal Palace at that time. "
What's more dramatic is that Warnock also admitted that he missed the opportunity to sign Drogba when coaching Sheffield United. At that time, Drogba was still playing for Le Mans in the French Ligue 2, and former Sheffield United player Laurent Diafo recommended the future superstar to him at a price of only 100,000 pounds.
Warnock recalled: "Diafu told me: 'Boss, I found a good seedling named Drogba '. I asked him how good he was, and he replied: 'Playing in French Ligue 2 '. I interrupted him directly: 'Stop kidding! '"
"Now think about Drogbado's lucky. If he had been with me in the Championship back then, how could he have the chance to become a world-class star?"
source:7m vn1
