Steven Gerrard is desperate for Liverpool to become champions, but it won’t ease his title pain because...
-
us and with us and wanted it so much.’
Gerrard spoke to Sportsmail this week at St George’s Park, where he was undertaking a section of the UEFA Pro Licence concerning media training. Given the volatile nature of life in the Scottish Premiership, it felt appropriate.
On the field, his Rangers team are progressing. Having lost only once in the league since early December, they sit eight points behind leaders Celtic. Away from the pitch, Gerrard’s learning curve has been steep.
‘The biggest eye- opener is the amount of thinking,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t call it stress and I am enjoying the ride. But there is no doubt, sleeping is more difficult and finding downtime is difficult.
‘It’s a 24-hour job and I want to do my best at it. I live in Glasgow — a fantastic city. It’s similar to Liverpool with the rivalries. I am enjoying it. Being at Liverpool so long has helped me to understand the expectation of the supporters. I’ve had a decent schooling.’
Gerrard has a new adversary in Glasgow, with Neil Lennon having succeeded Brendan Rodgers at Celtic. It was Rodgers and Gerrard who almost led Liverpool to glory five years ago. It doesn’t seem that long ago. Maybe that’s why the wound hasn’t healed.
‘I don’t just look back to that one game or one campaign,’ Gerrard stressed. ‘I don’t overthink it and drive myself crazy. At the same time, I’ve been honest. It was a big year. It was the trophy that eluded me so I am always going to look back and wish it was different.
‘We had a fantastic team and I don’t want to disrespect any of the squad that I played with, but the Liverpool owners have done an incredible job supporting Jurgen.
‘To spend the money they have on the goalkeeper (Alisson) and Virgil van Dijk has improved Liverpool immensely. I would have loved to have played with those two and Liverpool have forwards who can change a game.
‘I played with one in Torres, one with Owen, one with Fowler, one with Suarez. But if you are a midfielder now, with those three (Salah, Mane and Firmino) in front of you, at this stage you have to be excited.
‘I have been in touch with a few of the players but it is more saying “Good luck, all the best, keep going”. Encouragement.
‘I wouldn’t go somewhere where I wasn’t asked to but I would always be there for any of them if they wanted to chat. But they are doing fine without me.’
by Ian Ladyman Football Editor
FOR Steven Gerrard, life’s challenges are now new ones. Management with Rangers is all- consuming, as he knew and hoped it would be. He looks as though as he is carrying the stresses of the job relatively lightly but does he sleep as easily as he used to? He says not.Liverpool will never be far away, though. He will never really leave his home city — his home club — behind and as Jurgen Klopp and his players attempt to win the Premier League title he came so close to five years ago, the detritus left by his own very public failure will never go away.‘That wound has been open since my experience and I am not sure it will close,’ said Gerrard this week.‘I can’t change that experience. It doesn’t affect how I feel towards what I am looking in on now. I look at a squad, some of whom I am still friends with. I see a support that gave me absolutely everything and I see a manager who has been an open book with me.‘I just hope for their sake, and mine as a supporter, that come the end of the season they are victorious in the Premier League. But it won’t make me or my wound feel any different if they are.’Gerrard’s reference point barely needs mentioning. Liverpool were in control of the 2014 title race before he slipped to help Chelsea win at Anfield three games from the end. Two weeks later, Manchester City were champions and Gerrard’s 16-year quest for a Premier League success was done.The 38-year-old former Liverpool captain’s career is not defined by what happened, but the stain is indelible. This year, with Liverpool and City cheek by jowl at the top once more, it is unlikely the outcome will be so permanently linked to the actions of one man.At Anfield, Klopp has done his best to appear phlegmatic but Gerrard knows how difficult it is. It is less than a year since City won the Premier League while Liverpool have never won it.Whether this serves to motivate or frighten players is unknown. Either way, it has to be dealt with. ‘I don’t want to give them a warning as warnings seem critical or panicky,’ said Gerrard. ‘My advice, having played for those supporters for so long, would be not to overthink it. Just enjoy it. Believe in yourselves.‘It was difficult for me at times, on certain days. But I was local, a supporter who h hdb had been th there since I was seven.‘Now they can use experiences of what has gone before to try to help them in the run-in. They have a great leader in Jurgen who, I am sure, is trying to take a lot of pressure and anxiety away from them. But it is only human that they are excited it d and d there th are nerves going i round because there is such a big prize up for grabs. The supporters want it more than anyone. They will help. The players have to see it as a help rather than a hindrance.‘When we were in that situation, I didn’t feel suffocated by the fans. I felt they were right behind‘It was the trophy that eluded me so I’m always going to wish it was different’
Fall guy: Gerrard will always rue the slip (inset) against Chelsea that hit Liverpool’s title bidEPA