Micah Richards faced an awkward moment with Achraf Hakimi after suggesting he may not be the best right back in the world.
The Moroccan scored the opener in a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa, and it proved to be crucial as Paris Saint-Germain made the semi-finals by a single goal with a 5-4 win on aggregate.
CBSAnd then took on the CBS panel[/caption]
Hakimi was a menace throughout the match flying down the right wing, and now has two goals and five assists in a competition the bookmakers consider PSG favourites for.
That’s upped his status as possibly the best in the world in his position, but Richards stopped just short of anointing him on CBS.
“The way you are performing right now is top level,” he said. “I’m thinking you’ve got to be in the top two right backs in the world right now, is that something you feel?”
Hakimi responded: “Thank you for your words, I don’t think a lot, I let you guys decide who’s the best and who is in the top two, but I try to do my job, I try to enjoy the people who like football and I’m really happy with that.”
He then stopped Richard’s reply dead and asked: “Who is the top two for you? Tell me your top two. Say, say.”
After the typical oohing and ahhing from the panel, Richards then settled down and admitted: “I like Trent [Alexander-Arnold].”
To which Hakimi responded: “OK. Good player,” and awkwardly looked down at his feet.
Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool were knocked out of the competition at the last 16 stage by Hakimi’s PSG and while the Englishman often racks up bigger assist numbers, no one has been quite so dominant down the right flank as Hakimi this season.
The 26-year-old is in arguably the best form of his career, although he’s not the only player who can say that since Kylian Mbappe departed for Real Madrid in the summer.
Ousmane Dembele is also playing by far the best football he ever has, and many have cited Mbappe leaving alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar.
CBSRichards was put on the spot[/caption]
CBSHakimi didn’t seem too impressed with his answer[/caption]
Jamie Carragher alluded to that factor, asking Hakimi: “I want to ask you about the team, you look like the best team in Europe at the moment.
“In the past you had maybe the best names in world football but now it feels more like a team, do you think that gives you a greater opportunity to win the competition this season?”
Hakimi was diplomatic in his response, given Mbappe is his best friend.
“I think we are really confident for two years now, we work a lot, we improve a lot,” he said.
“We are on the way to becoming a big team and we are again in the semi-final and we want to show everyone that Paris is a big team and big club and we’re going to fight for all the trophies we can.”
Richards then re-addressed his comments, signing off by saying “Hakimi, you’re the best, you’re my number one!”
Next up for PSG in the Champions League will be either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the final four.
