Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard – three of England’s golden generation – have admitted that club rivalries contributed in them failing to achieve success at international level.
Speaking on BT Sport after Chelsea’s 1-1 draw at Anfield on Saturday night, the trio talked about how their competition at club level hampered their progress on the international stage.
Ferdinand and Lampard began their careers at West Ham, but the relationship they formed at the Hammers soon evaporated when they ended up at rivals – Manchester United and Chelsea.
Ferdinand said: “We came through at West Ham together, did everything together like proper mates. I left and went to Leeds then Manchester United, Frank went to Chelsea and around that time our communication just disintegrated.
“It was down to, from my perspective, the obsession with winning. I didn’t want to see Frank have an edge on me.
“It was the same with Stevie and England, when we were battling them (Liverpool) for the Premier League, I didn’t want to sit around and have a beer with him because I didn’t want to hear what Liverpool were doing… I think that’s what held us back.
Lampard said: “You feel so passionately about the club you play with your team-mates, your own performances that to be a bit pally with someone you’re competitive with… it may have [held back England]. We didn’t hate each other but by nature we would sit on different tables.”
He contrasted the situation with England, where players all play in the Premier League, to countries where talent is spread across more than one domestic league.
“A lot of other nations have players playing all over the world and then they come back together and they don’t have that competition – every week we were at each other,” he added.
Gerrard agreed: “I think it was more of a respectful relationship around England rather than a closeness where there was love there.”
Source: FCNaija
