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Authors: Steven Gerrard
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again.
It didn’t seem impossible, but Chelsea immediately established themselves at a level that we were still striving to reach. Overnight they became genuine contenders. I knew they weren’t going to go away.
In those circumstances, every pound and penny that Liverpool spent had to be spot on. Yet whereas other teams made signings and improved their squad, becoming stronger, I feel now that we went a bit flat. The margins are fine. If you don’t strengthen in the summer correctly, you will find other sides pulling away from you. The sides with the most financial power usually get their signings right because they have first pick of the best players available. Everyone else comes in behind them because they don’t want to get involved in a head-to-head battle for players that they cannot realistically win. You get judged on your signings and while it wasn’t solely down to Diouf, Diao and Cheyrou that we didn’t progress as we wanted, Gerard paid the price.
Yet that final step in football is the hardest. And it is getting even harder to take now. I was gearing up for Euro 2004 with England when the decision was taken by Liverpool’s board of directors that Gerard would be leaving.
I know the chairman David Moores and Rick Parry the chief executive were sad, even though they were making a decision they felt was in the best interests of the club, and I felt the same way.
From the moment I broke into Liverpool’s first team, Gerard spoke to me every day. The conversation I had with him for the first time after it was announced he had left was difficult and awkward. I had shared everything with him and yet now I didn’t really know what to say except ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’.
Typically, Gerard was more interested in me than in himself. ‘Keep going, keep learning’ was the gist of what he said to me when really I should have been the one offering him kind words. But that is Gerard Houllier for you. Before every big game, a text message will come through from him wishing me good luck. If Liverpool – or England – have a big result, he will be in contact offering his congratulations. He is always in touch to see how my family is and vice versa. I keep in contact with him as well. Just because he left Liverpool did not mean our relationship ended. In many ways, the texts and conversations I have with him now mean more than ever.
----
“I can honestly say, on my kids’ lives, that I have always backed every manager I have worked under.”
----
Getting Palmed Off
----
I have taken a few blows to my mouth and face over time, but that comes with wanting to win. Tackling has always been a big part of my game and really I have no right to get to the ball here. I’m helped by the fact that I have got long legs, but being at full stretch probably explains why I have picked up niggles in my groin. Sometimes I’ll get the tackle right, other times I’ll get it wrong and it’ll be a yellow card. This looks like I got it spot on against Tottenham’s Helder Postiga, although referee Uriah Rennie probably gave a foul!
Laying My Body on the Line Against the Gunners
----
Games against Arsenal are always physical and you have to be prepared to win the battle before you can win the match itself. I was trying my utmost to reach a pass here in the Arsenal penalty area, but the ball has evaded me. I’ve had some good moments against the London club over the years and the odd low point, but I love playing against them and I’ll always try my hardest to ensure that it is Liverpool who come away the happier of the two teams.
CAPTAINCY
When Gerard Houllier called me into his office one day, I thought it was just going to be another of those seemingly daily chats about how I was doing. Then he dropped something of a bombshell.
‘Stevie, I want you to be captain. I think the time is right for you.’ For a split second, I was stunned and shocked. And then excited.
‘Great. Fantastic. Of course,’ I said.
It didn’t seem impossible, but Chelsea immediately established themselves at a level that we were still striving to reach. Overnight they became genuine contenders. I knew they weren’t going to go away.
In those circumstances, every pound and penny that Liverpool spent had to be spot on. Yet whereas other teams made signings and improved their squad, becoming stronger, I feel now that we went a bit flat. The margins are fine. If you don’t strengthen in the summer correctly, you will find other sides pulling away from you. The sides with the most financial power usually get their signings right because they have first pick of the best players available. Everyone else comes in behind them because they don’t want to get involved in a head-to-head battle for players that they cannot realistically win. You get judged on your signings and while it wasn’t solely down to Diouf, Diao and Cheyrou that we didn’t progress as we wanted, Gerard paid the price.
Yet that final step in football is the hardest. And it is getting even harder to take now. I was gearing up for Euro 2004 with England when the decision was taken by Liverpool’s board of directors that Gerard would be leaving.
I know the chairman David Moores and Rick Parry the chief executive were sad, even though they were making a decision they felt was in the best interests of the club, and I felt the same way.
From the moment I broke into Liverpool’s first team, Gerard spoke to me every day. The conversation I had with him for the first time after it was announced he had left was difficult and awkward. I had shared everything with him and yet now I didn’t really know what to say except ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’.
Typically, Gerard was more interested in me than in himself. ‘Keep going, keep learning’ was the gist of what he said to me when really I should have been the one offering him kind words. But that is Gerard Houllier for you. Before every big game, a text message will come through from him wishing me good luck. If Liverpool – or England – have a big result, he will be in contact offering his congratulations. He is always in touch to see how my family is and vice versa. I keep in contact with him as well. Just because he left Liverpool did not mean our relationship ended. In many ways, the texts and conversations I have with him now mean more than ever.
----
“I can honestly say, on my kids’ lives, that I have always backed every manager I have worked under.”
----
Getting Palmed Off
----
I have taken a few blows to my mouth and face over time, but that comes with wanting to win. Tackling has always been a big part of my game and really I have no right to get to the ball here. I’m helped by the fact that I have got long legs, but being at full stretch probably explains why I have picked up niggles in my groin. Sometimes I’ll get the tackle right, other times I’ll get it wrong and it’ll be a yellow card. This looks like I got it spot on against Tottenham’s Helder Postiga, although referee Uriah Rennie probably gave a foul!
Laying My Body on the Line Against the Gunners
----
Games against Arsenal are always physical and you have to be prepared to win the battle before you can win the match itself. I was trying my utmost to reach a pass here in the Arsenal penalty area, but the ball has evaded me. I’ve had some good moments against the London club over the years and the odd low point, but I love playing against them and I’ll always try my hardest to ensure that it is Liverpool who come away the happier of the two teams.
CAPTAINCY
When Gerard Houllier called me into his office one day, I thought it was just going to be another of those seemingly daily chats about how I was doing. Then he dropped something of a bombshell.
‘Stevie, I want you to be captain. I think the time is right for you.’ For a split second, I was stunned and shocked. And then excited.
‘Great. Fantastic. Of course,’ I said.
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