Was this posted? Apologies if it was.
If it wasn't, what are the thoughts of him doing an interview with the SundaySun? Can't wait to hear how this one gets explained away.
If it wasn't, what are the thoughts of him doing an interview with the SundaySun? Can't wait to hear how this one gets explained away.
Steven Gerrard: I'm desperate to win title
By Chris Bascombe, 16/08/2009
DRIZZLES of red ticker tape are scattered across the euphoric face of Steven Gerrard as he holds aloft the Champions League trophy.
It is a stirring, career-defining image. The photograph, the most iconic taken as he stood triumphantly on the podium in Istanbul in 2005, is strategically placed as the focal point of the 'Memorabilia Room' in the Liverpool skipper's Formby home.
Within hours of that intoxicating night in The Ataturk Stadium, Gerrard called for European triumph to be the catalyst for further glory.
A single FA Cup win in the four years since wasn't what he had in mind. And with another title bid looming, in a season which climaxes with a World Cup, the desire to add to his picture gallery has never been greater.
"I've knocked two rooms into one where I keep all the mementos from Liverpool and England," says Gerrard. "That's where I've got that photograph on the podium in Istanbul.
"It's the best memory I've got in football so far, and the highlight of my career up to now, but I don't want it to be in a few years.
"Whenever I walk into the room the first thing that comes into my mind is how I want to rearrange everything to make space for the one I really want.
"I'm desperate to get that photo of me with my teammates holding the Premier League trophy. I don't want to finish my career and have to go into that room and not have that. It does play on my mind how many years I've left to win it. I've turned 29 now so I know time isn't on my side, but it's important I don't get obsessed by it.
"You have to go into every new season prepared to do all you can to make it happen and I genuinely believe we can do it. This city would absolutely erupt if we did.
"Istanbul entered folklore because of how we won it. There are fans who have already written plays about it.
"But because of the gap since we last won the title, if we achieve it, it would be bigger than the Champions League. Everyone at the club knows that and that's one of the incentives for doing everything to win it because we've seen what that kind of success means to the fans, and the players."
Gerrard almost bowed out at Anfield in the aftermath of the club's fifth European Cup, only convinced to stay by the promise of being the foundation of Benitez's Rafalution.
The vow to rebuild has been kept. Incredibly, Liverpool kick off their new season at White Hart Lane today with Gerrard and Jamie Carragher the only survivors from the squad which beat AC Milan in that extraordinary final.
In an era of Kop instability, Gerrard has been an indestructible source of hope. He has prompted comparisons not only with Liverpool legends of the past, but with another Captain Marvel who had to wait too long to get his hands on the trophy he most coveted and deserved - Bryan Robson.
"It's flattering when people have mentioned me in the same breath as him," said Gerrard. "I watched the latter stages of his career. My dad always told me 'watch that fella and try and learn from him'. I know it was later in his United career when he eventually won the title, and if it's the same for me so be it.
"Ideally I'll win it when I'm 29, but if it happens when I'm 32, 33 or 34 I don't care, I'll take that.
"It will just mean the world to me to win it at Liverpool. Moving to a different club and winning the league just doesn't enter my mind. I won't give up on it at Anfield.
"I suppose the amount of changes I've seen here in the last four years alone shows you how quickly things move on in football. I can't believe Istanbul was only four years ago, but everyone can see how much Rafa has had to do, even to a side which won the Champions League.
"What's encouraging is now there seems to be a unity at the club from top to bottom which can only help.
"There have been stages where we've been in the papers for what's gone on upstairs, but hopefully that's all over with.
"Bringing Kenny Dalglish back to the club as an ambassador was also a fantastic move which I know gave the players a big lift.
"I honestly don't see a lot more changes being needed to the side, but we do have to find consistency from the first game. That showed last year when it was draws, not defeats which cost us.
"We are good enough to win it.
"Our keeper is the best in the world, defensively we're very solid and we've got matchwinners such as Fernando (Torres).
"There's no two ways about it, Xabi Alonso going to Real Madrid will leave a hole. But there's an opportunity for Lucas to show what he can and hopefully for Alberto Aquilani to show how good he is. If we give Alberto time maybe he'll make sure we don't miss Xabi too much and I'm sure Rafa will be working as I speak to bring a few more in."
Inevitably, there are those who'll note some of the unwanted recent newspaper headlines related to Gerrard himself.
Off the pitch, it has been a traumatic few weeks. Sitting out Liverpool's pre-season tour of Asia to appear in court was not on the itinerary ahead of what he intends to be his most celebrated year. "I'm glad it's all over and I can just concentrate on my football," is all Gerrard wishes to say on his recent courtroom acquittal.
It's safe to presume, however, that the already ultra-cautious Kop skipper will be even more careful about where he winds down from now on.
It comes as some relief that he's been able to spend the last few weeks focused entirely on professional concerns of a more familiar kind.
And as Gerrard recognises, this season's title party will be hosted by the usual revellers, with at least one wealthy gatecrasher.
"The Premier League gets harder to win every year," he added. "The form we showed last season would have been enough to win it in a lot of years, and yet we finished second. It shows there's no room for error.
"People are talking about everyone having more chance with United selling certain players, but they've also brought in quality. I'm pleased for Michael Owen he's back on that kind of stage, but I have to admit I didn't enjoy that day when I saw the breaking news ticker on Sky Sports saying he'd signed for Man United.
"I don't like him being at our bitter rivals. If he gets fit he'll score goals, and that's not good from a Liverpool fans and players point of view.
"This season the competition from a number of other clubs is obvious.
"For the good of the league it will be healthy to have Manchester City pushing for the top four, but from a selfish point of view I hope they don't sign any more players. Otherwise it will get to the stage where they'll be fighting for the title and getting in the way of what we want. They're probably the main reason why it's going to get harder. But I can't remember feeling so optimistic going into a season for both my club and my country.
"As long as we finish the job in World Cup qualification, I'm certain there's going to be a different feel about the England squad going into the tournament this time than I've ever known before. Fabio Capello has brought that belief.
"There will be a lot of us in the Liverpool squad thinking we can not only win the Premier League this year, but also have a real chance in South Africa. That's not just the English lads, of course, but players like Fernando, Javier (Mascherano) and Dirk (Kuyt) too.
"Opportunities like this don't come along every year and we're desperate to grasp the nettle and make it a special season."
It may only need 90 minutes at White Hart Lane this afternoon to demonstrate exactly how tough it will be for Gerrard to claim the title before his 30th birthday.
But no-one at Anfield will be working harder to add another iconic photograph to his private exhibition.
