Tory Deeney has opened up on interactions with Kevin De Bruyne and Sadio Mane that he felt were "intimidating".
Neither the Manchester City man nor the Liverpool star are known for their frightening nature but their exchanges with the former Watford man left their mark. Both players have become leading lights during their Premier League careers, becoming integral figures for their respective teams.
De Bruyne and City have dealt Watford some maulings over the years, hitting six past them at Vicarage Road whilst they recorded a comprehensive win in the FA Cup final. Deeney claims the Belgian's relaxed and nonchalant nature before games has left him intimidated.
Mane meanwhile, whose Liverpool side have enjoyed recent success against Deeney and the Hornets, also spoke casually with the striker before a game. That relaxed nature of both players made the striker feel somewhat inferior, which he admitted in The Sun.
He said: "When you line up against someone like Kevin De Bruyne and before the match he’s smiling, totally chilled — 'Hello Troy, how are the kids?'… now that is intimidating. The guy’s about to metaphorically go to war with you and he’s whistling a happy tune because he’s basically saying: 'I’m so good at football that I’m not even going to break sweat against you.' De Bruyne and his City mates are more likely to wind you up by being so infuriatingly cool.
"It’s the same with Liverpool, City’s opponents in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley today. I can remember Sadio Mane smiling at me in the tunnel, telling me to look after Ismaila Sarr, my Watford team-mate, who plays for Senegal with Mane.
"He was saying what a good boy Sarr is, and seemingly totally blase about the actual match. That is far more unsettling than an opponent roaring at me or trying to make themselves look physically imposing."
De Bruyne was left on the bench for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against the Reds. He played a starring role in the draw between the two last week, but was forced off in Wednesday's Champions League game with Atletico Madrid. Pep Guardiola said: "Kevin has stitches in his calf. It is not a muscular injury."
Mane, like De Bruyne, scored in last weekend's clash at the Etihad. That could bolster his chances of featuring from the start with Jurgen Klopp not short of attacking options. He was able to rest players in midweek with Mo Salah, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz all eyeing minutes.
