Former England and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard labels his team as 'egotistical losers'

Steven Gerrard

Former England and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes ego and club rivalry prevented the Three Lions from winning international tournaments during his time as a player.

Branded a "golden generation", Gerrard was part of an immensely talented squad that failed to get beyond the quarter-finals of a major tournament under a number of different managers.

The 45-year-old, who won 114 international caps, led Liverpool to the Champions League in 2005.

Manchester United's crop of England stars, including the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney and the Chelsea contingent of Ashley Cole, John Terry and Frank Lampard also enjoyed Premier League and Champions League success at club level.

But Gerrard said those club divisions prevented England from gelling as a team.

"We were all egotistical losers," Gerrard told the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, highlighting the camaraderie that now exists between the same players in their punditry careers.

"So why didn't we connect when we were young? Was it ego? Was it rivalry? [I think] It was down to the culture within England. We weren't friendly. We weren't a team. We never at any stage became a real good, strong team. We were just a group of individuals with talent and it never works like that," said Gerrard, who has also dabbled in management, having previously coached Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq FC.

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