Paul Scholes takes swipe at Liverpool by saying his badminton trophy is more important than the Club World Cup

Liverpool's victory in the FIFA Club World Cup has been ridiculed by Paul Scholes who insists that a badminton trophy he won with a local club is more important than his medal in the competition.

The Reds became world champions of club football last Saturday when they defeated Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo 1-0 after extra time in Doha.

Liverpool's success was the seventh consecutive victory for European clubs in the competition and although they were pushed hard both in the final by their Brazilian opponents and Monterrey in the semi-final – with Roberto Firmino's winner against the Mexicans only coming in stoppage time – the tournament also featured teams from hosts Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the French Pacific Island collectivity of New Caledonia.

Scholes was part of the Manchester United squad who became the first English side to win the FIFA Club World Cup in 2008 – but did not play in the final against Ecuador's LDU Quito – although he did turn out in their 1999 victory over Palmeiras in the Intercontinental Cup, a precursor of the current format.

He told BBC Radio Five Live : “Well you want to win it once you’re there but I don’t think it was ever something that we were desperate to win.

“Even now if someone said to you ‘What trophies did you win over the years?’ I don’t think we’d mention the World Club Championship.

“I really don’t. I’m not joking, I’m serious!

“But you know what, it’s like anything else, it might take more importance over the years.

“It looks like Liverpool have enjoyed it, they’ve celebrated it and probably will mention it and why not – but just when we were playing it wasn’t that serious I don’t think.

“But now you look back I suppose you’re quite happy but it’s not something you set out to do as a player I don’t think.”

Scholes,who also won the Champions League twice, 11 Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two League Cups with Liverpool's bitter rivals was then asked by host Robbie Savage which was the most important between his Club World Cup medal and his badminton trophy and replied: “My badminton medal probably!”