Paul Scholes says he ‘can’t answer’ who was better out of himself and Steven Gerrard, but admits he ‘wouldn’t be able to do’ what his midfield rival did at Liverpool

Paul Scholes says he ‘can’t answer’ who was better than himself and Steven Gerrard but admits he ‘couldn’t do’ what his midfield rival did at Liverpool

  • Paul Scholes was asked if he was a better player than Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard
  • The Man United legend praised his ‘team’, while Gerrard had individual qualities
  • Listen to the latest episode of the Mail Sport podcast ‘It all starts’

Paul Scholes can’t answer the question of whether he was better than Steven Gerrard, admitting it depends on the nature of their two teams at the time.

Football fans continue to debate the benefits of Scholes’ success at Manchester United, while Gerrard played a dominant role in the center of the park for Liverpool.

And Scholes, who played more than 700 games for the Red Devils in 20 years, believes the line-ups of the two sides were crucial in separating the pair.

Scholes was asked about Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE if he was a better player then the Liverpool legend, and the 48-year-old replied: ‘I can’t answer that. Gerard. Gerard is a great player…

“We’re different, we’re very different… he’s an athlete.

Football fans continue to debate whether Paul Scholes (L) was better than Steven Gerrard

Scholes was unable to answer the debate, noting the differences between their respective sides

Scholes was unable to answer the debate, noting the differences between their respective sides

“I think he’s more of a match winner. But he was playing on a team where he probably needed to be. I was more part of a team. He was more individual, I think.’

When asked how they would have fared had the situation been reversed, Scholes said it was “very different again” and they might not have had the same successes.

Scholes said: ‘I couldn’t do what he did at Liverpool.

“Whether he could have done it at United, I don’t know. I don’t see why not. But I couldn’t have done what he did at Liverpool, no.’

The debate between Scholes and Gerrard remains hotly contested, despite the decade that has passed since their playing days.

Last month, Ben Foster ranked Scholes as the best midfielder in the Premier League era, with Steven Gerrard back in fourth, behind Kevin De Bruyne and Frank Lampard.

Scholes praised the team's work at Manchester United, while Gerrard was an individual

Scholes praised the team’s work at Manchester United, while Gerrard was an individual

Gerrard made over 700 appearances for Liverpool between 1998 and 2015 before joining LA Galaxy

Gerrard made over 700 appearances for Liverpool between 1998 and 2015 before joining LA Galaxy

But in May, Gerrard’s former Liverpool colleague Jamie Carragher stood up for his former teammate, highlighting that Sir Alex Ferguson was trying to sign Gerrard for Man United, while Jose Mourinho was trying to bring him to Chelsea.

Since retiring from playing in 2013, Scholes joined several of his former Man United teammates in taking ownership of Salford City, who currently play in League Two.

Gerrard, who made over 700 appearances for Liverpool between 1998 and 2015, joined LA Galaxy before retiring in 2016.

The former Rangers and Aston Villa boss is currently in the early stages of his first season in charge of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.


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