Paul Scholes isn't one to pull any punches in his new role as a pundit for BT Sport, but the former Manchester United midfielder spoke out at an event in London on Saturday about footballers crying on the pitch, describing modern footballers as too 'sensitive'.
Scholes was speaking at an official Champions League final viewing party at London's Sky Garden, where he said players nowadays 'get upset too easily'.
This was in reaction to Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius who broke down in tears after a hellish night in goal for Liverpool who were beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid, with two of the goals the German's fault.
Karius, who was starting to build up his reputation following a shaky start to life in the Premier League this season with Liverpool, was at fault for Real's first and third goals. The opener in the 51st minute was a total brain-freeze from the 24 year old who rolled the ball out straight into Karim Benzema's path who prodded the ball into the net. Karius could only watch in awe as Gareth Bale's stunning overhead kick sailed into the top corner to make it 2-1 to the Spanish side before a terrible blunder handed Bale a second and Real's third in the 83rd minute.
The Liverpool keeper was inconsolable at full-time as he apologised to the Liverpool fans behind the goal and it was notable that no other Liverpool players came to console him at the time.
Scholes quotes were reported by the Manchester Evening News:
"I can understand Karius, I suppose, he's devastated at what's happened but injuries are part of the game."
"If you go back years and you saw somebody crying on the pitch, they'd have had a whole load of stick for it.
"Now it's a different game, players are sensitive and they get upset easily."
The quotes were perhaps somewhat misplaced given the current initiative around the issues of mental health in football. Although nobody would expect Scholes to show any emotion on the football pitch, it shouldn't stop others from reacting that way and they shouldn't be pillared for it.
Reported death threats for Karius and the butt of thousands of jokes on social media, the German will have a tough summer ahead of him and even tougher if Jurgen Klopp looks to sign a replacement.
Mo Salah and Real Madrid defender Carvajal were also in tears as they picked up early injuries which ruled them out of the remained of the game and perhaps the World Cup for Egypt and Spain respectively.
Scholes was un-sympathetic though and when asked whether he cried when missing out on the 1999 Champions League final due to picking up a second booking in the semi-final, the Mancunian answered "No. What's crying going to do?"
“If you go back years and you saw somebody crying on the pitch, they'd have had a whole load of stick for it. What's crying going to do?”
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