Mil still feels the thrill ‘I KNOW FANS WILL BE WATCHING US’
DAILY STAR SUNDAY, July 19, 2020
JAMES MILNER says he is gutted that Liverpool fans won’t be inside Anfield on Wednesday night to see the Reds lift the Premier League trophy, in an interview for the Official Liverpool FC versus Chelsea matchday programme.
Instead of being crowned as champions on the pitch in front of more than 50,000 Reds, captain Jordan Henderson will receive the trophy from Sir Kenny Dalglish on a special podium installed on an empty Kop. After waiting 30 years to see their team win the league, Reds supporters are understandably frustrated that they cannot be inside Anfield to see the silverware hoisted aloft. But while vice-captain Milner says he is more gutted for the fans not to be there than he is for his team-mates to be crowned in an empty stadium, he believes the situation regarding Covid-19 must be put into perspective. “I’m gutted for the supporters, in truth,” Milner, 34, told the Official Liverpool FC Matchday Programme. “More than us as players.
“That said, it is what it is and during this period so many people have made far greater sacrifices than footballers and football fans.
“People across society have had far bigger hardships, so perspective is important.
“Look, we’ll make the best of it. It’s not that the fans aren’t going to be watching.
“I’m sure every Liverpool fan, no matter where they are in the world, will make sure they’re watching.
“So they’ll be with us even if they’re not there. We’re still lifting it for them and ourselves.
“I’ve no idea how it will feel until it happens, but it won’t detract from the achievement and what this team and staff have worked so hard for.”
Milner signed for Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer of 2015, having previously won two Premier League titles with Manchester City.
He is the only member of the Reds squad to have won an English league title before.
On the night that Liverpool were confirmed as 2019-20 champions – after his former club lost 2-1 at Chelsea – Milner was taken aback by the outpouring of emotion.
“The night it was confirmed we were champions, you could see the emotional impact,” he said. “Not just on us and the manager but the supporters and the past players – the legends. Sir Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard, so many of them.”