LIVERPOOL CAPTAIN STEVEN Gerrard denies that the club could or should have done more to stop him from leaving this summer to join LA Galaxy.
The Reds legend is set to play his final home game at Anfield against Crystal Palace on Saturday and, after some influential performances in recent matches, former Liverpool player and manager Graeme Souness had argued that his employers should have fought more to keep their talisman.
But Gerrard, who is keen to avoid becoming a bit-part player at his beloved club, says that the decision to depart is his alone.
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He told reporters: “No one likes criticism or people saying you’ve done this wrong or this badly so it is nice when people of Graeme Souness’s calibre say nice things; I’m not going to deny that.
“But I don’t think it’s the case that Liverpool should have done anything different to try and keep me. I’ve made a decision and I think it’s the right time. That’s what it comes down to and, once I’d made that decision, I don’t think there’s much the club could have done.
“I haven’t regretted it, not really,” the midfielder continued. “I did not make the decision lightly when I made it.
“I have been honest enough to say at the start of the season, when I came away from England, I thought I’d be playing on for another season after this one but I think, the way the season’s gone, I have been getting messages and feelings that I got the timing right.”
The 34-year-old admits that he has been particularly careful to ensure his fitness to face Palace as he prepares to say goodbye to his loyal fans.
“I have just tried to think about not getting injured and not missing this game on Saturday, thinking I’ve just got to try and be sensible for the weekend,” he added. “I don’t want to miss it for the world.
“I think the important thing for me is trying to focus on the game, play well, get three points for the team first and foremost … then I can obviously have that moment and get my chance to say bye to the fans.”
Asked if he feared that his Liverpool career might have been fizzling out after his red card against Manchester United, Gerrard replied: “I did. Certainly, sitting in the dressing room after the sending-off against Man United, I was thinking I don’t want it to fizzle out in that way and people to remember a hamstring injury, the suspension against [United] and some bad performances.
“So I am really happy the last couple have gone well and I am hoping the final two games go in the same way but I do think people will remember me not for a period of four, five, six games or even six months. I think, once it’s actually done and I am away, if my name ever comes up, they will remember what I have done for 17 years rather than a short space of time. I hope they do, anyway.”
Gerrard: It's not Liverpool's fault that I'm leaving
LIVERPOOL CAPTAIN STEVEN Gerrard denies that the club could or should have done more to stop him from leaving this summer to join LA Galaxy.
The Reds legend is set to play his final home game at Anfield against Crystal Palace on Saturday and, after some influential performances in recent matches, former Liverpool player and manager Graeme Souness had argued that his employers should have fought more to keep their talisman.
But Gerrard, who is keen to avoid becoming a bit-part player at his beloved club, says that the decision to depart is his alone.
He told reporters: “No one likes criticism or people saying you’ve done this wrong or this badly so it is nice when people of Graeme Souness’s calibre say nice things; I’m not going to deny that.
“But I don’t think it’s the case that Liverpool should have done anything different to try and keep me. I’ve made a decision and I think it’s the right time. That’s what it comes down to and, once I’d made that decision, I don’t think there’s much the club could have done.
“I haven’t regretted it, not really,” the midfielder continued. “I did not make the decision lightly when I made it.
The 34-year-old admits that he has been particularly careful to ensure his fitness to face Palace as he prepares to say goodbye to his loyal fans.
“I have just tried to think about not getting injured and not missing this game on Saturday, thinking I’ve just got to try and be sensible for the weekend,” he added. “I don’t want to miss it for the world.
Asked if he feared that his Liverpool career might have been fizzling out after his red card against Manchester United, Gerrard replied: “I did. Certainly, sitting in the dressing room after the sending-off against Man United, I was thinking I don’t want it to fizzle out in that way and people to remember a hamstring injury, the suspension against [United] and some bad performances.
“So I am really happy the last couple have gone well and I am hoping the final two games go in the same way but I do think people will remember me not for a period of four, five, six games or even six months. I think, once it’s actually done and I am away, if my name ever comes up, they will remember what I have done for 17 years rather than a short space of time. I hope they do, anyway.”
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