Cleverley defends Premier League players

0 Comments

14 August 2012-PA Sport

Tom Cleverley has denied Great Britain's Olympic heroes have set a standard for Premier League footballers to match.

The Games' closing ceremony brought the curtain down on a fortnight of sport that will live long in the collective memory of Great Britain.

In its place comes the return of the English Premier League.

Even the Community Shield failed to embrace the spirit of London 2012, with one player sent off and eight more booked as Manchester City overcame Chelsea.

Little wonder the top flight's star men have recently been compared unfavourably with Bradley Wiggins, Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and company.

Cleverley believes such a view is harsh and does scant justice to the work his colleagues put in to stay at the pinnacle of the highest profile sport.

"I have picked up on the feeling a little bit. Whether I agree with it I am not too sure," said Cleverley.

"The other athletes are unbelievably dedicated but so are footballers.

"They sacrifice a lot to be the best they can in a very competitive industry.

"I wouldn't say either of us are more dedicated to what they do."

Cleverley loved his Olympic experience, even though it involved sharing rooms with team-mates as opposed to living in their own space as he would in a footballing environment.

"It was a brilliant experience and is something I will be able to look back on," he said.

"The whole thing was a new experience.

"It was good to see how the other athletes prepared and village life was certainly different.

"I wouldn't say it was better or worse than we are used to, just different. But the fact we won our match at Wembley meant something worked."

Yet it was just one part of a period in Cleverley's life that he describes as 'living the dream'.

He was granted four days off by Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of his Olympic odyssey.

On Saturday he embarked on a quick trip to Germany for a small role in Manchester United's pre-season preparations and on Wednesday will move on to Berne for a likely England debut against Italy.

Cleverley has just celebrated his 23rd birthday.

"Playing for Manchester United, Great Britain and England in one summer is quite something," he said.

"Hopefully I will win my first cap this week. That is a massive honour for any footballer and something you dream of growing up.

"It has just been an all-round good experience."