With Steven Gerrard announcing his exit from Anfield at the end of this season, rumors and speculations started to surface about ‘What led him to’ and his relationship with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers. The name almost synonymous to Liverpool Football Club, was given a backseat in Rodger’s first season with the ‘red side of Merseyside’, but was quick to justify his position in the team and has started 17 games out of 20 for the Reds, this season.
However, Gerrard exposed his relationship with Rodgers, which according to him could be cherished, if he was still 24 years old.
“I wish I’d met Brendan when I was 24 because I think I’d be sitting here talking about a lot of titles that we’d won together,”said Gerrard. Brendan came into this club when I was 32 years of age and it’s a shame that relationship didn’t start 10 years ago.”
However, Gerrard claims that being told to start fewer games, was the main reason for his exit from Liverpool.
“The key conversation was when the manager sat me down and said it was time to manage my games. It was a very difficult conversation to have. I’m bright enough to realise it is the right thing. I accept it.”
Gerrard has started 17 of Liverpool’s 20 league games this season. Only Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson have started more.
But Gerrard, was quick to deny any specter of a fall out with Brendan Rodgers, after being excluded from the side which defeated Stoke City – on the 16th anniversary of his debut for the club.
“When you’ve been a starter and a mainstay in the team for such a long time… I had an idea the conversation was going to come at some time, but it was a painful conversation.”
A clearly emotional Gerrard said he had been “blown away” by the reaction to the news that he is to end his long association with Liverpool.
“I can’t read much of the reaction at the moment. I keep switching the TV over,I didn’t realise it would be as big as this. It’s very flattering and I’m very humbled by it. “
Meanwhile, the Liverpool skipper focused on things at hand, and expressed that he will give his everything to see Liverpool get a top four finish this season.
“These next six months are a very important period for myself and the team,” he said. “I’d love to leave this team with a top-four finish.”
Steven Gerrard’s exit from Anfield, has been termed as a heartbreak for Liverpool supporters across the globe. The name almost synonymous to Liverpool, has been one of the top players to grace the English Premier League, ever.