Legendary Chelsea hardman Ron 'Chopper' Harris believes Nobby Stiles would have been the first name on Manchester United's star-studded teamsheet.
Harris often clashed with the World Cup-winning former England midfielder, who passed away on Friday aged 78 after a long illness, during battles between Chelsea and United in the 1960s.
United won the European Cup under Sir Matt Busby when beating Benfica 4-1 at Wembley in 1968, two years after Stiles helped England to World Cup final glory at the national stadium.
Although Busby's side was famed for the mercurial talents of Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best, Stiles' defensive midfield prowess made him indispensable for club and country.
Former Chelsea captain Harris, who made a club record 795 appearances for the Blues, said: 'Nobby was a legend of English football and I can only pay tribute to his memory and achievements at this sad time.
'In my time playing against Nobby, I would imagine he was the first name on the Manchester United teamsheet.
'He was a fantastic competitor from the first minute to the last and had an incredible will to win.
'If he was playing 5-a-side on a Friday then I'm sure he would be exactly the same.
'United had great players like Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and Bestie, but you need lads like Nobby in any successful side – that balance is vital.
'I go back to my time at Chelsea and we had three exceptional players in Peter Osgood, Alan Hudson and Charlie Cooke.
'Then there were guys like myself and Webby (David Webb) who were competitive and it was the same with Nobby.
'He wasn't a destroyer, but he played as if his life depended on the result.
'He was a little guy of 5ft 6in, but they used to say 'when the going gets tough, the tough get tougher' and that was Nobby.'
Harris, 75, fondly remembers clashing with Stiles when Chelsea faced United, adding: 'We used to always do well at Old Trafford and United seemed to do better when they came to Stamford Bridge.
'Nobby was always in the thick of things and back then you really did need to stand up and be counted when you went away from home.
'There were some fearsome battles and Nobby never took a backward step.'
Unlike Stiles, Harris never won an England cap despite his incredible Chelsea career.
He added: 'That appearance record will never be beaten at Chelsea because back then we played through the pain barrier.
'People don't play with pain now, like they did when Nobby and I played.
'I captained the England youth side that won the junior World Cup and also the Under-23s.
'I never got into any of the senior sides, although obviously I'd have liked to, but I'm proud of what I achieved and I still work at Chelsea now doing the hospitality.
'I'm grateful for what Chelsea have done for me and I keep busy during the week as well, so I'm enjoying life.'