Paul Scholes believes English football has declined to such an extent that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich would win the Premier League by 10 to 15 points.

Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City all exited the Champions League in the last 16, while Everton's defeat to Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League meant a total wipeout of the English sides in Europe.

And Scholes, the former Manchester United midfielder who twice lifted the European Cup, has entered the debate on why English clubs are so inferior to their continental counterparts.

Paul Scholes (centre) believes Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich would dominate the Premier League

Mesut Ozil's Arsenal fought back strongly against Arsenal but couldn't overturn the 3-1 first leg deficit

Dejected Chelsea players walk off following their loss to Paris Saint-Germain last week

Writing in The Independent, Scholes said: 'Over the last two weeks our coaches and players in the Champions League have looked second rate.

'If you put one of Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the Premier League, they would win it by 10 to 15 points.

'Even PSG and Juventus look better sides than any of those currently at the top of the Premier League.'

While some have blamed the lack of a winter break for English failings, Scholes puts it down simply to inferior players.

Paul Scholes has twice won the European Cup with Manchester United - in 1999 and 2008 (pictured)

Scholes played 134 European matches during his career, scoring on 26 occasions

'The bottom line to this season's failings? I think the big two in Spain, and Bayern, simply have better players than the English teams in the Champions League,' he writes.