I hated being in England squad, we were all egotistical losers, says Gerrard

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.

5 Steven Gerrard has admitted he 'hated' being part of the England squad Credit: PA:Press Association

5 The Liverpool legend spoke to Rio Ferdinand on his podcast

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?

“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, 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.

5 Gerrard says the players get on far better today than they did during their England days Credit: PA:Press Association

5 The former England captain struggled to play with Frank Lampard in midfield Credit: Action Images - Reuters

5 England's Golden Generation never got past the World Cup quarter-final Credit: Getty

“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.”

Gerrard also believes England managers and staff should have had the courage and ability to tackle the long-running debate about the midfield.

Sven-Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson all failed to find a way of blending Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes into an effective unit.

Scholes retired from international football after being shunted out to the left and Gerrard said: “The most frustrating thing for me about the debate is when I hear it a lot is, why hasn't there been someone over a 15-year period that's made us work together?

“That's on me as well because at times, I underperformed and blah, blah, blah.

“I'm sure Frank will hold his hand up, Scholes. They're all honest lads but a [central midfield] two doesn’t work with them three.

“I think someone had to have the courage to say, well, Steven, it's not you today, or Frank or Scholesy.

“Putting Scholesy on the left and me on the right or me on the left or asking one of us to be just a sitter takes a lot away from any of us.

But I think we could have tactically been coached over a period of time for it to work because I believe we had the football IQ and intelligence to adapt and make it work together.”