Manchester United legend Denis Irwin believes players these days have to come equipped with great mental strength such is the power of social media.
The former Red Devils full-back suggests modern day players need to be well aware that using networks such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook makes them more susceptible to abuse and limits their overall privacy.
Irwin was referring to the Wayne Rooney boxing video which was leaked to The Sun when speaking of the scrutiny players are now under due to the various forms of social media.
"Back in my day you had to be mentally strong but even more so nowadays because you are in a goldfish bowl," said the former Republic of Ireland international.
"When you are a player here you know someone is after your place, whether it is a young lad or someone being linked in the papers, and you have to be mentally strong to handle that as well.
"There is more social media nowadays and the players are even more in a goldfish bowl than even in my days, but that is part of life.
"You are privileged not just to be professional footballers but playing for a club like this and they know it as well."
