Liverpool captain admits he was selfish in row with manager
By CLIFF HAYES, 06/12/2008 [NOTW]
LIVERPOOL skipper Steven Gerrard today admits he has been “selfish” in his power struggle with Kop boss Rafa Benitez.
The pair have clashed repeatedly over the England midfield superstar’s best role in the Liverpool team.
Gerrard has constantly been moved out of his favourite central position and moaned that his game suffers as a result.
But now, with the Reds serious title challengers for the first time in years, Gerrard holds his hands up and confesses he was wrong.
He admits: “I used to worry because I was selfish and wanted to be in my favoured position every game — like you do on the playground when you’re a kid.
“But the game has changed. I have learned to understand I have a job to do for the team.
“You can’t afford to be selfish. If I play out of position and we get a win I still get the same buzz.
“If the manager says to me I’m playing centre midfield or off the front man, there’s no massive difference to me.
“But yes, I enjoy playing further forward, especially behind Fernando Torres.
“Last season was probably one of the easiest I’ve had. The quality of his runs, the amount of chaos he was causing, let me in to get 21 goals.
“I’ll play wherever the manager wants me to play and not worry about it.”
It’s a complete U-turn from the Liverpool skipper, whose position has been a major talking point on Merseyside since Benitez took charge in June, 2004.
And just a couple of months ago Gerrard sighed: “I’ve paid the price for being able to do a decent job in other positions. My game suffers when my position is changed.”
Benitez hit back, saying: “We have been talking about Gerrard’s best position for three years. Everyone knows he is a good player. Where he plays does not matter.”
But peace and love have finally broken out at Anfield.
In an interview in the latest edition of the official UEFA Champions League magazine, Gerrard insists the pair now have “the perfect relationship.”
Salute
Just 12 months ago, Benitez was on the verge of being sacked in a bitter bust-up with the club’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Now the Spaniard is discussing a two-year contract extension to keep him at Anfield until at least 2012.
And Gerrard is quick to salute the Spaniard. He says: “Rafa is obsessed with football 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“You have to take your hat off to him. He’s one of the best managers there is.
“Rafa is the type that when you finish a game as man of the match having scored three goals, he won’t even mention it. Instead, he’ll mention that you never used your left foot at a certain point!
“But Rafa does it right. When I need a pat on the back I get it.
Perfect
“I have had lots of ‘well dones’ from him, but when I need a kick up the backside I get it too.
“He can also make me laugh, but you don’t see that side of him — or me — from the outside.
“We spend a lot of time together on the training ground, travelling to matches and he joins in. We’ve got a great team spirit here and my relationship with him is perfect at the moment.”
After Gerrard scored his 100th Liverpool goal in the 3-1 Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven in October, Benitez described his captain as “the best midfielder in the world.”
Liverpool take on PSV again on Tuesday in their final Group D match, with qualification to the last 16 already assured.
It’s another trophy on Gerrard’s radar this season after an incredible 20 years at Anfield.
He joined the club as a starry-eyed eight-year-old, made his first-team debut on November 29, 1998, was handed the captaincy in October 2003 and has helped the Reds win the Champions League, UEFA Cup, European Super Cup (twice), FA Cup (twice) and League Cup (twice).
Godsend
Only the Premier League trophy is missing.
And this season Liverpool have the best chance since they last won the 18th of their record championship hauls 18 years ago.
They have already beaten title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, which is a godsend for his beautiful WAG Alex Curran, as Gerrard admits he takes any defeat home with him.
He says: “I love being a Liverpool player, being captain, living the dream. I wouldn’t change it for the world. But sometimes there’s that much at stake.
“Sometimes you want it so bad you can only really enjoy it when you get the right result.
“I’ve never really thought during a game: ‘I’m really enjoying this.’
“When it’s 0-0 or we’re losing it’s like: ‘Let’s get the win and get out of here.’
“It’s the same for the fans. If they say they enjoy it I bet they only mean at the final whistle when they’ve got the result.
“I take any defeat home with me. I’m not the same person until the next game. Luckily we win a lot or I’d be a nightmare to be with.”
By CLIFF HAYES, 06/12/2008 [NOTW]
LIVERPOOL skipper Steven Gerrard today admits he has been “selfish” in his power struggle with Kop boss Rafa Benitez.
The pair have clashed repeatedly over the England midfield superstar’s best role in the Liverpool team.
Gerrard has constantly been moved out of his favourite central position and moaned that his game suffers as a result.
But now, with the Reds serious title challengers for the first time in years, Gerrard holds his hands up and confesses he was wrong.
He admits: “I used to worry because I was selfish and wanted to be in my favoured position every game — like you do on the playground when you’re a kid.
“But the game has changed. I have learned to understand I have a job to do for the team.
“You can’t afford to be selfish. If I play out of position and we get a win I still get the same buzz.
“If the manager says to me I’m playing centre midfield or off the front man, there’s no massive difference to me.
“But yes, I enjoy playing further forward, especially behind Fernando Torres.
“Last season was probably one of the easiest I’ve had. The quality of his runs, the amount of chaos he was causing, let me in to get 21 goals.
“I’ll play wherever the manager wants me to play and not worry about it.”
It’s a complete U-turn from the Liverpool skipper, whose position has been a major talking point on Merseyside since Benitez took charge in June, 2004.
And just a couple of months ago Gerrard sighed: “I’ve paid the price for being able to do a decent job in other positions. My game suffers when my position is changed.”
Benitez hit back, saying: “We have been talking about Gerrard’s best position for three years. Everyone knows he is a good player. Where he plays does not matter.”
But peace and love have finally broken out at Anfield.
In an interview in the latest edition of the official UEFA Champions League magazine, Gerrard insists the pair now have “the perfect relationship.”
Salute
Just 12 months ago, Benitez was on the verge of being sacked in a bitter bust-up with the club’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Now the Spaniard is discussing a two-year contract extension to keep him at Anfield until at least 2012.
And Gerrard is quick to salute the Spaniard. He says: “Rafa is obsessed with football 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“You have to take your hat off to him. He’s one of the best managers there is.
“Rafa is the type that when you finish a game as man of the match having scored three goals, he won’t even mention it. Instead, he’ll mention that you never used your left foot at a certain point!
“But Rafa does it right. When I need a pat on the back I get it.
Perfect
“I have had lots of ‘well dones’ from him, but when I need a kick up the backside I get it too.
“He can also make me laugh, but you don’t see that side of him — or me — from the outside.
“We spend a lot of time together on the training ground, travelling to matches and he joins in. We’ve got a great team spirit here and my relationship with him is perfect at the moment.”
After Gerrard scored his 100th Liverpool goal in the 3-1 Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven in October, Benitez described his captain as “the best midfielder in the world.”
Liverpool take on PSV again on Tuesday in their final Group D match, with qualification to the last 16 already assured.
It’s another trophy on Gerrard’s radar this season after an incredible 20 years at Anfield.
He joined the club as a starry-eyed eight-year-old, made his first-team debut on November 29, 1998, was handed the captaincy in October 2003 and has helped the Reds win the Champions League, UEFA Cup, European Super Cup (twice), FA Cup (twice) and League Cup (twice).
Godsend
Only the Premier League trophy is missing.
And this season Liverpool have the best chance since they last won the 18th of their record championship hauls 18 years ago.
They have already beaten title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, which is a godsend for his beautiful WAG Alex Curran, as Gerrard admits he takes any defeat home with him.
He says: “I love being a Liverpool player, being captain, living the dream. I wouldn’t change it for the world. But sometimes there’s that much at stake.
“Sometimes you want it so bad you can only really enjoy it when you get the right result.
“I’ve never really thought during a game: ‘I’m really enjoying this.’
“When it’s 0-0 or we’re losing it’s like: ‘Let’s get the win and get out of here.’
“It’s the same for the fans. If they say they enjoy it I bet they only mean at the final whistle when they’ve got the result.
“I take any defeat home with me. I’m not the same person until the next game. Luckily we win a lot or I’d be a nightmare to be with.”
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