Former Ghana Black Star coach, Avram Grant has stated emphatically that former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan leaving the English Premier League was a mistake.
The Israeli tactician led Ghana to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final, where they were beaten on a penalty shoot-out by Ivory Coast, ending the tournament as runners-up after he was appointed as coach for Ghana national football team in 2014.
On 2 February 2017, Grant resigned as the coach of Ghana after losing the semi-finals against Cameroon and Burkina Faso.
The former Chelsea coach said:
“Asamoah Gyan had one of the biggest qualities I have ever seen in my life because he has everything as a striker” Grant who coached Gyan between 2014 and 2017 told 443gh.
“He has the passion to score, he can score with his feet and his head. He is very good mentally. I’m sure you remember the 2015 AFCON game against Algeria, the goal he scored in the last minute. I think his biggest mistake was not staying in the Premier League. He could have stayed because I think if he [did], he would have been considered as one of the best strikers.”
The Israeli coach also said:
“I spoke to Didier Drogba not long ago and he told me Asamoah Gyan is one of his favourites and he could have achieved more.I think it was a mistake moving from the Premier League but we all make mistakes when we are young.He should have stayed in the Premier League. There are not many strikers with his qualities.”
Asamoah Gyan transferred from the English Premier League side Sunderland to Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates after scoring 10 league goals in his first season with The Black Cats.
The 34-year-old missed a penalty kick with no time remaining at end of extra time, in the quarter-final tie against Uruguay, following Luis Suárez’s handling of the ball on the goal-line, hitting the crossbar and necessitating a penalty shootout to decide the game in round 16 of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa 2010.
Former Captain of Ghana national team has played 109 matches for the Blacks Stars and scored 59 goals to surpass Abedi Pele’s 33 goals to become the top goal scorer in the National team.
