Crouch reveals the only player he ever feared was Muscat

Former England international Peter Crouch has revealed the only player that he was ever scared of was ex-Socceroos defender Kevin Muscat.

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Crouch faced Muscat on four occasions during the early 2000s, twice when Crouch's Portsmouth played Muscat's Wolves and another two times when Crouch's Norwich took on Muscat's Millwall. 

Muscat was actually sent-off for Millwall in a clash against Crouch's Norwich in 2003. Just one of 12 red cards, along with 123 yellow cards, that Muscat picked up in his career. 

Speaking on his own podcast, Crouch was asked if there was any player he was ever scared of during his 17-year career. 

"Kevin Muscat scared me. You know people say, 'I'm going to break your legs', when he would say it you genuinely believed him," Crouch said. 

It's not the first time an England international has spoken of fearing Muscat. 

In 2010, Ashley Young revealed the only time he had been nervous was when he made his debut for Watford against Millwall. 

"When I made my debut for Watford was the only time (he got nervous)," Young said. 

"Kevin Muscat said he would break my legs if I went past him."
Crouch also revealed an incident with Ghana international John Pantstil who was then with Fulham. 

"He went through me so I started giving him a bit of stick," Crouch said.

"I was saying, 'Ah, you're useless. How are you even on this pitch? Your mates are laughing at you. You're costing this team every week.'

"Then I had to ask him his name. I had a look at the back of his shirt.

"I just saw him switch and he changed. I said to Aaron Hughes, 'What's the matter with this fella?' He said, 'He's a nutcase.' Basically, 'What have you done?'

"He [Pantsil] said he was going to end my career. He'd break my legs and this and that.

"He was playing right-side centre-half so I conveniently moved to the left side. He didn't care, he left a massive hole at one side of the pitch and he was just following me wherever I went. I was thinking, 'Oh my God, he's going to kill me.'

"He was throwing his elbows in, he was an absolute nutcase."


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Crouch reveals the only player he ever feared was Muscat | SBS Sport