Babel out to get one over old Anfield captain
GALATASARAY forward Ryan Babel admits meeting up again with former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard will be “special” but will have no qualms about putting one over the Rangers boss.
The 33- year- old Dutch winger played alongside Gerrard at Anfield between 2007 and 2011 and ahead of the Europa League play- off match at Ibrox on Thursday night, Babel recalled good times with a man he admires. However, understandably he wants the Turkish side to make the group stages of the competition.
Babel said: “For me it’s special, of course. I was fortunate to play alongside Steven Gerrard in my time in Liverpool and now he’s a manager.
“He’s doing well and I’m happy to see him doing well at Rangers. It is a special game, a tough match, but you know only one team can win and hopefully it will be Galatasaray.
“I met Steven, of course, when I joined Liverpool in 2007. Very quickly, I saw that Steven Gerrard at that time was a player that didn’t need to talk much on the pitch as a captain.
“His presence and him being on the pitch, alongside his team- mates, was enough inspiration and motivation for us to get it all.
“I felt like he was talking at the right time when it was necessary. And I shared great memories of my time there and for me it’s not weird that he became a manager. I feel like he understands football obviously very well.”
Babel is confident that Gerrard can have as successful a managerial career as he had on the pitch.
He said: “Yeah, I think so. It’s clear you know what he wants to accomplish.”