Gerrard happy he stayed put

02 May 2009 09:29
Steven Gerrard insists he has no regrets about staying at Liverpool and turning down Chelsea.[LNB] In 2005 after asking for a move from his beloved Reds, Gerrard was all set to seal a move to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea.[LNB]But Gerrard later turned his back on Stamford Bridge and he has now helped turn Liverpool into genuine title contenders.[LNB]"The reason the whole Chelsea thing came up was down to frustration that we were so far away from the title race," Gerrard told the Daily Telegraph. [LNB]"That's why their interest maybe turned my head slightly. But I look back now and I'm really pleased I decided to stay because I am part of a top team here that can be successful.[LNB]"It would mean an awful lot more to be successful at Liverpool than it would at any other club.[LNB]"Don't get me wrong, I might have won more medals somewhere else but if I was to win the league here, along with a few more cups, that would mean a lot more than winning seven or eight trophies somewhere else. I can share it with my family, with the Liverpool supporters because I've been one of them all my life."[LNB]PressureGerrard admits the pressure of captaining his hometown club is sometimes hard to cope with.[LNB]"Yeah, every day I am captain of one of the biggest clubs in the world, where you are expected to win every single game," he continued. [LNB]"Sometimes that can get to you. Sometimes after a defeat, sitting on that bus, you feel as if you've got the world on your shoulders. Phone calls are coming in left, right and centre from family and friends who idolise Liverpool Football Club. If you haven't played well or feel slightly responsible for the result it can get on top of you.[LNB]"On the other hand, if you get on that bus and you've played well, scored a goal, maybe won a cup final and lifted a trophy above your head, then you're on top of the world. I've had those experiences playing in this team and I wouldn't change them for the world. The pressure is well worth it for moments like that."[LNB]ConfidentGerrard is confident Liverpool are very close to assembling a side to rival the best.[LNB]"People talk about the spine of this team and when you look at it - at people like Pepe Reina, Carra, Xabi and me - we've played together for about four years now," he added. "We know each other's games inside out. The manager, meanwhile, is trying to strengthen other areas of the side. We're very close to having a top team. Very close."[LNB]Despite being in the title run-in, Gerrard admits the Liverpool fan in him stops him wanting to see rivals United make the Champions League final.[LNB]"It's a difficult one because obviously I want them to be as busy as possible but I don't really want to be saying I want to see them in a European Cup Final," he concluded.[LNB]"But I think the next two league games are crucial for us, in maybe getting another chance, because Man U have tough league games either side of their second leg. [LNB]"They've got to play Middlesbrough Saturday lunchtime, which might mean Sir Alex Ferguson makes a few changes. And then, after the second leg at the Emirates, I think they've got the derby against City. If they can come through those two games then it's basically all over, but if they make any kind of slip up it does give us hope."[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports