England football stars a mollycoddled and pampered lot: Scholes

Scholes claims managers more interested in money than success had ruined England’s chances of glory.

London: Former Manchester United and England star Paul Scholes has blasted the current national squad for being a “mollycoddled and pampered” lot and claimed they have no chance of winning a trophy.

In a brutal attack on the national team, Scholes claimed managers more interested in money than success had ruined England’s chances of glory. “I think the England team these days are treated like world superstars from what they do at club level,” a leading daily quoted Scholes, as saying. “I don’t think that helps when they go to England, because they’re all mollycoddled and pampered. They’re treated like they’re world champions before actually being a successful team to do that,” he added. “I just think the England manager these days changes that often there can never be that stability - I think managers just go out for the England job for the money these days,” Scholes said. Asked if he could see England winning a trophy any time soon, Scholes, speaking to United fanzine Red News, said: “You would always like to say ‘yes’ but, for me, at the minute, no I can’t.” Despite winning 10 Premier League titles with United, for whom he played 672 times, scoring 150 goals and earning 66 England caps, Scholes played down his status as one of the best players of his generation. He has been hailed by the likes of Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta as the most gifted player of his time, but Scholes said he did not deserve to be held in the same regard as the world’s best. “I don’t agree with [me] being one of the best players in the world,” he said. ANI