Xabi Alonso reveals he was a big fan of this former Man United midfield partnership

Xabi Alonso has described one-time Manchester United midfield partnership of Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick as "a perfect machine."

The Bayern Munich midfielder was speaking about the pair in an interview with The Sunday Times, and said the duo should have been utilised better for England. Carrick has only played 33 times for his country since making his international debut 14 years ago, and was left out of England's World Cup squad in 2014. Scholes retired from the Three Lions in 2004, after becoming unhappy with being used in a wide role. Perhaps more surprisingly, former Liverpool player Alonso also believes Carrick was good enough to play for the all-conquering Spanish national team which won the World Cup and two European Championships. "I've always seen myself in him; he could play in the Spain national team," Alonso said. "I remember him and Scholes were like a perfect machine, because Carrick was always in the right position and Scholes was moving around, doing his special things. "But in the national team Carrick doesn't play that important a role. I could see him being an important figure in making the team better, but it doesn't happen."