I don’t want to look back and wish I had done things better
JAMES MILNER ON WHY HE’S HUNGRY FOR MORE GLORY DAYS
THIS is one of those moments when an interview could come to an abrupt halt: James Milner has been looking back over his career when he is asked whether he has started planning for the future.
Milner is in his 14th year of topflight combat. He recently gained entry to the distinguished group who have made more than 400 Barclays Premier League appearances and his career total will move to 551 tonight when Liverpool lock horns with Augsburg in the Europa League.
‘I’ve started the coaching badges,’ he replies. ‘I did some at Aston Villa but things got in the way. I started them again this year… hang on, you’re not trying to get me rotated are you?!’
A quizzical look is followed by a short pause, but then laughter breaks out. Milner, Liverpool’s vicecaptain, turned 30 last month but his enthusiasm remains as intense as the day he entered the record books in November 2002, aged 16 years and 309 days, as the Premier League’s youngest player for his boyhood club Leeds.
His zest is understandable. Milner could have remained at Manchester City last summer but seized the chance to play a part in helping Liverpool rebuild.
The quirks of fate mean his old club will stand in the way of his new club’s first chance to make a statement under Jurgen Klopp in Sunday’s Capital One Cup final at Wembley.
Before that, Augsburg must be dealt with, but the fact that Liverpool are still competing on two fronts has provided vindication of his decision to accept Brendan Rodgers’ offer last summer. Milner (right) feels he is still adjusting but four goals and six assists so far show his growing importance. ‘Looking at the players City signed, I’m not sure I would have kept a couple of £50m-£60m players ( Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling) out of the team,’ says Milner. ‘I am coming to the part of my career where I want to play more football.
‘I was fortunate enough to win everything at City. They hadn’t won anything for such a long time. I wanted to go there and help them achieve success and we managed to do that. ‘Liverpool have had such an amazing history but I would like to be a part of winning trophies here. I can see that happening.’ He speaks wisely.
Milner is not prone to making bold statements but what is clear is how much he intends to enjoy occasions such as the important nights in Europe and trips to Wembley.
‘ I remember Nigel Martyn at Leeds used to joke that he was old enough to be my dad,’ says Milner. ‘He would always say to me, “Enjoy it, because it is going to fly”. I’d say, “Behave, Nige, I’m only 16”, but he was right — 14, 15 years go like that (clicks fingers).
‘The amount of hard work you put in, on the days when it is p***ing down and freezing, the hours in the gym, the days when you have come off and know you have had a poor game and lost...the moments when you win a trophy or achieve something — they are few and far between. You have to enjoy them when they come. You don’t want any regrets. Hopefully I have still got a few years left.’
And he will be doing everything to ensure the end remains in the distance. ‘I have always wanted to do whatever I can to get that edge,’ he says. ‘You are a long time retired. I don’t want to sit there when that happens and think, “Oh, I wish I had done that better”.
‘I just think everything I can do, that is always the way that I have been. I don’t want to have any regrets. It is so difficult at this level. I have seen so many top players with potential come through and not quite make it because the mentality wasn’t right. I’ve seen others get through because they had the mentality, even if they didn’t have the ability.’
So is it true that he’s never had a drink? ‘I tried my old man’s Strongbow when I was young!’ he says, with more laughter. ‘But when I came through at Leeds, I made that decision that if it helped me not drinking then I wouldn’t. If you’ve never really done it, how can you miss it?’
One thing he doesn’t want to miss is being involved in the games that matter. Liverpool’s year has been erratic, but winning one of the two trophies available would change things and, Milner says, give Klopp’s reign momentum.
‘We don’t want to call this season a transition,’ he says firmly. ‘We don’t want to say, “Never mind, let’s think about next year”.
‘The league form has been erratic but we have shown at times it can be very good. At least we know we can get there and how good we can be.’ James Milner was speaking at a Barclays event to inspire the next generation of fans to fall in love with football. To win Barclays Premier League tickets search: Barclays Spirit of the Game.
“I would like to be winning trophies here” “So many top players don’t quite make it”