Carragher regrets title blank

15 May 2013 16:17

Retiring Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher admits the one regret of his 16-year Reds playing career was not winning the league title.

The 35-year-old played a key part in the famous 2005 Champions League final victory over AC Milan but the top domestic prize just evaded his grasp.

"I wish I'd have won the league but you've given it everything and done as much as you can in terms of what you put into it," said the centre-back, who will bow out at Anfield in his 737th and final match for the club against QPR.

The closest he came to it was in 2008/09 when the club's record Premier League points tally of 86 - a season in which they lost just two matches - was still only good enough for a runners-up place to Manchester United.

Since then Carragher believes the standard of the Premier League has dipped - along with Liverpool's chances of competing for the top four, never mind the title.

He added: "We weren't good enough, all of us. It's very simple, there's no fancy reason or excuse, other teams in that particular season were better than us. A couple of times we went close but it was Manchester United or Arsenal. It's not something I lose sleep over, I've been very lucky to achieve some of the things I have.

"If you look at everyone there's always something someone hasn't done. There's always more to achieve, whatever you've done. I'm pleased with how it's gone.

"If someone had offered me to be here until the end of my career - the trophies, the big games we've played and won, the stadiums I've played in - I'd have bitten their hand off for that."

Asked for his highlight, he stressed there was no contest, and he added: "Istanbul, nothing will beat that - the Champions League final. It's difficult to ever top that. We've never won the league, which is a disappointment; if we'd have won that maybe I could have compared the two.

"We've won FA Cups, Carling Cups, the UEFA Cup but nothing compared to the Champions League. It's the biggest and best trophy that you can win as a footballer in club football. It's what we achieved. It's a team game; there are different managers and coaches who have helped you along the way, you do your best - I've done all right."

Source: PA