Former Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland has been slammed by fans over what has been described as the most deluded interview ever.
After moving from Irish side Cobn Ramblers to City as a youngster, Ireland eventually broke through to the first team in 2005 and went on to make over 170 appearances for the Manchester club, scoring 23 goals.
Ireland was named City’s Player of the Season in 2009 after a string of impressive displays.
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However, he has recently been slammed by fans after he was asked about the best players he has played with and against. You can watch the footage below.
Ireland said: “Really tough because there’s a lot of players I played with, names you’d expect to be good but they weren’t.
“I’ve played against huge names and on the day they’ve never really got the better of me, I never played against someone and thought ‘Wow, these are incredible'.
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“Steven Gerrard for example, Frank Lampard every time I played against them I’ve got the better of them.
“Even though they’re incredible players, Paul Scholes, I’ve never had a game where I thought ‘God, I’m out of my death’, that was never the case.
“Eden Hazard was incredible to play against, absolutely frightening. Playing with, Shaun Wright Phillips was fantastic I loved playing with him, Robinho was very very good, Vincent Kompany was good at the time I suppose.”
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He added: “That year when I got player of the year at Man City, we had a very good squad, everyone played out of their skin but I was just better than everybody in that season.
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“But all the other guys were top as well, I probably wouldn’t have got that award or played the way I did without those guys. But there’s not one person that jumps out at me.”
Fans were quick to react to Ireland’s interview on social media.
One said: “Stephen Ireland "always got the better of" Frank Lampard when he played him. Stephen Ireland was also subbed after an hour in Chelsea's 6-0 drubbing of Man City at the Bridge in 2007, in which Frank Lampard got 2 assists.”
Another tweeted: “Who knew the answer to the Scholes/Lampard/Gerrard debate would have been Stephen Ireland.”
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A third fan added: “This has to be the most deluded interview ever, what planet is he living on?”
Someone else commented: “Bro thinks he is Ronaldo.”
After leaving City in 2010, Ireland went on to play for Aston Villa, Newcastle, Stoke and Bolton before calling time on his career in 2018.
Featured Image Credit: TikTok/@rhelitecoachingTopics: Manchester City, Fan Reactions, Football