'Every time I went to head the ball, Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini put an elbow in the back of my head, and basically knocked me out, I played for 75 minutes with a bottle of smelling salts in my hand' Chris Waddle on his experience with two Italy icons

Chris Waddle reminisces about his iconic playing career, particularly his challenging encounters with legendary defenders Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini while at Marseille. This intense rivalry during the European Cup semi-finals left Waddle battered and bruised, yet it's a memorable moment. He recalls being knocked out by Baresi while navigating tough defensive plays. Despite the challenges, he finished the match with a mix of perseverance and humor, illustrating the physical demands of top-level football in the early 1990s.

"During the game in France, him and Franco Baresi, every time I went to head the ball, they put an elbow in the back of my head, and basically knocked me out."

"I played for 75 minutes with a bottle of smelling salts in my hand. I had to keep sniffing it because I was all over this place."

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