Retiring Burnley fullback Steven Reid has branded today's Premier League "SOFT".

Reid hangs up the boots after today's game with Aston Villa.

He told the Daily Star Sunday: "Overall there is way more quality in the Premier League now in terms of depth.

"But individually, I am not so sure. I remember being at Blackburn and standing in the tunnel and looking across at Keane, Scholes, Giggs and Van Nistelrooy.

"Right away you knew you'd struggle to get a result. You knew they'd need to be 20 per cent off their game if you were to have any chance.

"Now, it's different. You look at City, at Chelsea, at United. We got a result against all three clubs.

"Whereas once you saw Vieira, Pires and Henry and thought, 'No, not today', now you don't give a f*** who you are up against.

"There is a genuine belief you will win. We took four points off City, drew with United at home and should have won away.

"Top-level Premier League clubs don't have the same characters as ten or fifteen years ago.

"That's why I like Costa. He's not afraid to put the boot in, not afraid to be aggressive - you need that in football."