STEVEN Gerrard says England’s Golden Generation failed because they were “egotistical losers” eaten up by club rivalries.
In an extraordinarily frank conversation with fellow ex-Three Lion Rio Ferdinand, the Liverpool legend claims England were never a proper team because of the “immature hatred” that existed between him and stars from other top clubs.
Steven Gerrard has admitted he ‘hated’ being part of the England squad[/caption]
Gerrard also revealed he was miserable for much of his career with the national team which spanned 114 caps – 38 of them as captain.
And the man who skippered England at Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup was scathing about himself and the other players who underperformed for more than a decade.
Gerrard, a guest on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, said: “I think we were all egotistical losers.
“Because I watch the telly now and I see Carragher sitting next to Paul Scholes on this fan debate and they look like they’ve been best mates for 20 years.
“And I see Carragher’s relationship with Gary Neville and they look like they’ve been mates for 20 years.
“I’m probably more close and friendly with you [Ferdinand] now than I ever was when I played with you for 15 years.
“So why didn’t we connect when we were 20, 21, 22, 23? Was it ego? Was it rivalry?
“Why are we all mature enough now and at stages in our life where we’re closer and more connected now? Why couldn’t we connect as England teammates back then?
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“And I think it was down to the culture within England.
“We weren’t a team. We were a group of individuals with talent and it never works like that.”
When Ferdinand admitted he felt there was “an underlying bitterness” between players from Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, Gerrard agreed.
The Kop king said: “Yeah, bitterness, a little bit of hate, a little bit of hatred.
“But when you think about it now, looking back at the age I’m at and having gone through a bit of coaching, it’s a bit immature.
“But also should there have been more emphasis on the staff to go to us, ‘Listen, you need to forget that now.
Gerrard says the players get on far better today than they did during their England days[/caption]
“We need to connect from day one, more activities, more out of your rooms, more time together.
“Because I think if we’d have been more of a team, more together and liked each other more, I think it would have come out in the performances more.”
