Source: Team_Talk
Gerrard: Long road to redemption
England captain Steven Gerrard accepts it will take more than a battling victory against Hungary to win over the nation again.[LNB] The Liverpool skipper had been largely spared the boos from the Wembley crowd, who jeered the players who underperformed so badly at the World Cup in South Africa.[LNB]After falling behind to a controversial own goal which did not appear to cross the line, Gerrard's brace eventually secured a much-needed win for under-pressure manager Fabio Capello on a night when his decision to effectively end David Beckham's international career grabbed the headlines.[LNB]However, the midfielder - who was pushed on into his favoured attacking central position later in the match - knows there is a long, hard road ahead towards a successful European Championship qualifying campaign and redemption in the eyes of some supporters.[LNB]"I have said that it would take quite a while to turn everything around, we are on the back of a disappointing World Cup and one win is not going to turn everyone on our side," Gerrard said.[LNB]"But with hard work and performances like we have given against Hungary, if we can build on it then hopefully the nation will get back behind us."[LNB]Gerrard added: "It was a fantastic feeling to get the goals and to come away with the win.[LNB]"It was a difficult game to play in as an England player and it became 10 times tougher when we went a goal down. So to come away winning the game and to have a bit more positivity around is a nice feeling."[LNB]Before the match, Gerrard had accepted the players would deserve the jeers following the bitter disappointment of their brutal mauling by Germany in Bloemfontein.[LNB]However, the England captain insisted: "To be honest, from the start I thought the fans were superb.[LNB]"Everyone was expecting boos from the start, but they got behind us.[LNB]"Okay, they got a bit frustrated when we went a goal down, but that is normal.[LNB]"They deserved to show their frustrations, but we hung in there and showed character. We got our rewards in the end."[LNB]No one has ever questioned Gerrard's own commitment to the England cause - and the Liverpool captain showed just what the national shirt means to him with wild celebrations after his goals.[LNB]"I did get lost in it because it was a feeling of relief," he said.[LNB]"This team and everyone involved in the World Cup has taken a lot of criticism, so to get an equaliser and win the game was a feeling of relief.[LNB]"I got carried away with the celebration, but I showed what it means to play for England and to score for England."[LNB]Capello admits he is now entering the toughest stage of his managerial career, but Gerrard insists if everyone sticks together, then positive results will come.[LNB]"If we can go and win both qualifying games that will hopefully start the process of turning the fans around on our side," he said.[LNB]"It will be tough for all England players in the next couple of weeks with rival fans, I am sure we will get a bit of stick - but we deserve that and need to take it on the chin."
