Agencies
WEst Ham, Aug 9: Lionel Messi would struggle to faze 16-year-old West Ham defender Reece Oxford, according to Hammers boss Slaven Bilic.
The teenager marked a memorable Premier League debut by helping his side to a shock 2-0 win at Arsenal on Sunday.
Oxford's inclusion in the side for the first game of season came as a surprise, but Bilic was confident he had the mental strength to handle it.
"If Messi was in front of me, I'd be more fazed than Reece," Bilic said.
Against Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud, Oxford impressed as he played his part in restricting the Gunners to few clear-cut opportunities.
The West Ham youth product finished the game with the best pass percentage in the match, with 95%.
Bilic added on Sky Sports: "People were asking: 'Are you sure he is 16?'
"It was going to be a risk but he has got something. I am very proud of him.
"Only on paper he is 16. He is a part of this new generation." |
