GERRARD SINGING THE BLUES
Liverpool skipper blasts Chelsea fans at Bridge
LIVERPOOL l egend Steven Gerrard’s Champions League dream ended at the home of the Premier League champions yesterday.
The Liverpool captain, who is leaving Anfield at the end of the season for the United States, got a standing ovation from Chelsea fans and boss Jose Mourinho after being substituted late on.
But for most of the match, Gerrard was barracked by home supporters intent on reminding him about his slip against them last season that played a pivotal role in the Anfield club’s failed title bid.
Gerrard said: ‘The Chelsea fans showed respect for a couple of seconds for me but slaughtered me all game so I’m not going to get drawn into wishing the Chelsea fans well. It’s nice of them to turn up for once today.
‘The standing ovation from a stadium is always nice but what’s important to me is the Liverpool fans and they have been there since day one.’
On Liverpool’s failed attempt to qualify for the Champions League, Gerrard added: ‘Qualifying for the Champions League has been the plan all season but we have come up a bit short. We’ll keep fighting while it’s mathematically possible but I think everyone knows it’s going to be tough.
‘It’s important the lads get some rest after these last couple of games and the owners try and dig deep and help the manager and the lads out and try and make some additions to improve.
‘There is a great core of players here, with terrific potential and
the future is looking alright. But it is important that you try and compete with the giant clubs in the league because they are all going to spend big.’ Gerrard, however, did admit that he’d have signed for Mourinho three times if he wasn’t a Liverpool supporter. The Chelsea manager admitted this week he failed to land the Anfield legend for the Blues, Real Madrid and Inter Milan. And Gerrard said: ‘He is the best manager in the world for me. I’d have signed for him three times if I wasn’t a Liverpool fan, if Liverpool weren’t in my heart. ‘He is the reason why my head was turned on a couple of occasions but he understood why I couldn’t do it and its because I love Liverpool Football Club. It always means more when you win for your people.’ Liverpool’s Champions League dream is not mathematically over. But they must win their final two matches, hope Manchester United lose both games and overturn a 14 goal difference to finish fourth. Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists Cesc Fabregas should have been sent off for a reckless challenge on Raheem Sterling in the first minute. The Spaniard caught the England star on the ankle, and Rodgers said: ‘I thought he recovered exceptionally well. Fabregas should have been sent off: out of control, diving, stretching. A poor challenge. ‘Raheem’s done well to stay on the field, and to play ever so well in the second half. He was a threat. That shows his strength of character.’