It is the debate that shouldn’t have ever existed – but it did – for well over two decades. Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard?
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson made the shocking decision of playing Scholes out of position to accommodate Gerrard and Lampard, a midfield combination that always failed.
It was only a matter of time before Scholes jacked in his England career after this, deciding to focus on United instead, which was beneficial to him in the end.
Several England managers that followed Eriksson wanted Scholes to return, however, he never returned to play for his country.
An intervention from Pep Guardiola on the old debate could have settled the argument once and for all.
Manchester City’s manager appeared on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube show – Vibe with Five – and he was quick to name Scholes as his favourite midfielder ahead of Gerrard and Lampard.
Speaking to Ferdinand, Guardiola said: “All respect to Frank [Lampard], to Steven [Gerrard] but Paul Scholes is my favourite one. I love it. I think he had everything but the other two, come on, Frank and Steven Gerrard changed this. Paul Scholes is my favourite.”
