Sheringham, who won the coveted European trophy with Manchester United, said footballers should not allow such comments to distract them from working on improving their game and getting useful feedback from their managers.
“The big problem is social media. I think you know when you play well.
“When you don’t play well, you don’t need criticism from people you don’t even know that might not even have watched the game,” the former England international told FMT after attending the Battle of the Reds press conference on Wednesday.
The Battle of the Reds is an upcoming friendly match which will see legends from English football juggernauts Manchester United and Liverpool go up against each other at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on April 27.
The mental health of professional footballers has become an important subject in recent years, with EPL stars like Dele Alli, Jadon Sancho and Richarlison opening up about their struggles.
These stem from various factors, ranging from the game’s high demands to the intrusive effect of social media, which has allowed faceless users to hurl invective at footballers without consequences.
In 2021, the Professional Footballers’ Association found that 176 (or 44%) of 400 players with Twitter (now X) accounts received racial, homophobic, ableist and sexist abuse.
John Arne Riise, a 2005 Champions League winner with Liverpool, said because footballers are under constant pressure to perform, they are generally reluctant to speak publicly about their struggles to avoid being perceived as weak.
Nonetheless, he said it was good to see more people championing mental health awareness, and trying to help footballers manage its effects.
“People need to talk if they are struggling. It’s sad to see many are struggling with it, not only in football but in general life,” he said, adding that many footballers only learn about their mental health issues when it is too late.
Bridging the gap between Asian and European football
Meanwhile, Sheringham said Asia must focus on more than just on-field performances if the continent wants to bridge the existing gap with European football.
The three-time EPL champion said Asians must develop their footballing mindset, training facilities and methods, and improve their nutrition intake.
“We’re seeing how South Korea is doing really well in the World Cup. I don’t think it’ll be long before it’s an even playing field, because things are improving in Asia,” he said.
Riise, who played briefly for Indian club Delhi Dynamos, said good coaches are crucial to nuture and develop Asia’s young football talents.
Comparing the footballing levels between Asia and Europe, Riise said: “It’s getting closer. You see more players from Asia coming to the EPL and Europe to perform.”
“But (development) needs to start from (a) young (age). Continue to perform and (the results) will come,” he added.
In the 2002 World Cup, co-hosts Japan and South Korea performed admirably to qualify for the knockout stages, with South Korea surpassing expectations to reach the semi-finals.
Since then, both countries have consistently featured in the world’s biggest tournament, with Japan getting past the group stage in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Many Asian footballers have made an impact on European football over the past 20 years, including Park Ji-sung, who won many accolades during a seven-year spell with Manchester United, and Son Heung-min, now consistently in the headlines at Tottenham Hotspur where he is club captain.