RIO REVEALS CLUB RIVALRY HIT ENGLAND

ENGLAND’S ‘golden generation’ have revealed how their Premier League rivalries and obsession with winning for their clubs held back the national team. Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard opened up about how they would avoid speaking to one another on international duty due to their commitments to Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea respectively. They would sit on separate tables at meal times and stay in their cliques. In an interview on BT Sport, Ferdinand said they were ‘subconsciously’ unable to bond or be close, even though it hurt England’s World Cup chances. Ferdinand was team-mates with Lampard at West Ham and said: ‘We did everything together, proper mates from 14, 15 years old. Then I went to Leeds and eventually Manchester United, and Frank went to Chelsea. Our communication just disintegrated. It was down to, from my perspective, the obsession with winning. ‘I didn’t want to speak to Frank about anything he might be able to use to facilitate his team winning. It became an unwritten kind of conduct. It was the same with Stevie when I was with England. When we were battling with them for the Premier League, I didn’t want to be around him because I didn’t want to hear what Liverpool were doing. He felt the same about me. That’s what held us back.’ Asked if it contributed to England not getting further in competitions, Lampard said: ‘It may have done. We didn’t hate each other, but by nature we would sit on tables (with clubmates), stick together. A lot of other nations have players all around the world, then they come back together and they don’t have that competitiveness. Every week we were at each other, in some way.’ All three agreed other factors went against England, such as unsuitable managers and injuries, but Gerrard added: ‘It was more respectful relationships around England than a closeness where there was love. ‘When I speak to other international players, your (Philippe) Coutinhos, they can’t wait to go away with Brazil. It’s the best 10 days of their season. You didn’t get that feeling when you were with England. ‘The bond, the spirit, the togetherness and the closeness have to improve. It will definitely help results on the pitch.’