Former Man United star Bastian Schweinsteiger gives his verdict on the Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard debate

Bastian Schweinsteiger has weighed in to give his opinion on the debate between Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

Scholes, Gerrard and Lampard are three of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, with the trio all racking up numerous individual and team accolades across their careers.

But, despite their glittering time in the game, they struggled to form an effective partnership in the centre of the park for England as the Three Lions’ Golden Generation failed to fulfill their potential on the international stage.

There has regularly been a debate over which midfielder was the best and Schweinsteiger – who enjoyed a hugely decorated career playing for Bayern Munich, Man United and Chicago Fire – gave his views.

‘They’re [Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard] very good players,’ he said, speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap, brought you by Sky Bet. 

Gerrard (pictured in 2009), Lampard and Scholes are three all-time greats of the game

Schweinsteiger hailed the trio and revealed he had played against Lampard the most 

‘All three of them – all in a different way. You [Gary Neville] know Paul Scholes much more than I know. 

‘I know a little bit more about Lampard because I faced him a little bit more often. So, when you face someone in a game, you know how good he is or not, and when you train with someone, even more.’

Schweinsteiger was best known for his 13-year spell in Bayern’s first team, winning 18 trophies with the Bavarian giants.

However, during the 2012 Champions League final, Schweinsteiger missed a decisive penalty against Lampard’s Chelsea as the Blues lifted the trophy for the first time in their history.  

The former midfielder also racked up 121 appearances for Germany and was part of their 2014 World Cup-winning team – and he would have faced the likes of Gerrard and Lampard when representing his country.

He continued: ‘That’s why it’s tough for me to say about Steven Gerrard, I played against him in the international team but not too many times. 

‘I can’t really say who is the best one of all three of them. I rate them very, very high and that’s why it’s probably unfair to pick out someone from them.’

During Schweinsteiger’s fascinating chat with Neville, he also opened up on several stories from his career, including his time at Old Trafford.

Schweinsteiger was in awe of Scholes but admitted he didn’t come up against him much

Schweinsteiger celebrates after beating Gerrard (right) and Lampard’s England in 2010

Schweinsteiger was speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap , brought to you by Sky Bet 

The 39-year-old revealed how his two-year stint at United came to a bitter end after he was banished from the first team by Jose Mourinho on his birthday and made to train with the Under 16s.

Schweinsteiger retired in 2019 and has since worked as a pundit, but remains one of the greatest midfielders to ever play the game. 

Bastian Schweinsteiger was speaking on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet.