“The legendary Liverpool defender shared his thoughts ahead of the Anfield match between his hometown club and Real Madrid.”, — write: football.ua
The legendary Liverpool defender shared his thoughts ahead of the Anfield match between his hometown club and Real Madrid.
“After winning the Champions League, the biggest achievement for me is being a one club man. As soon as I started playing for Liverpool, I knew I wanted to stay here forever. I love it when people ask, ‘What club did you play for?’ — and I can answer: “Only for Liverpool. I was a fan who just happened to be on the field.”
– What are you doing now?
— I work for Sky Sports and CBS, commenting on Premier League and Champions League matches. I like this job – it allows me to stay close to big football.
— You are an excellent analyst and often joke with Henri on the air. Proud to be Liverpool’s most capped player?
— Yes, 150 matches in European cups is really a lot. I am proud of it. And even more — I became the Englishman with the most appearances in European tournaments.
— What comes to mind when you talk about the 2005 Champions League final?
— Istanbul, 20 years ago… This is the main moment of my career. But I immediately remember Okhotorena. I learned of his death a few days ago and it broke my heart. He was our goalkeeper coach, a wonderful person. He was respected by everyone – both in Spain and in Liverpool.
— Do you still remember the missed penalty in the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup against Portugal?
– No, not at all. It would be pointless to dwell on the past. This is football, it happens. And, after all, players better than me, like Gerrard or Lampard, didn’t score their shots either!
— What are your memories of the Spanish national team at the 2010 World Cup?
– They were incredible. Winning the World Cup is the pinnacle, and if you add two more victories at the Euros in a row, then you can say that Spain then simply dominated world football.
— You recently came to Spain to receive the One Club Man award from Athletic. What was that experience like?
– I really liked this visit! I felt extremely honored when I received this award. Now I’m a big fan of Athletics! (laughs) I wasn’t too fond of them when I was younger though – they took Howard Kendell, my favorite coach! He was the best manager in Everton’s history. It is thanks to him that I have the warmest memories of football, especially of the 1984/85 season.
— The philosophy of Athletics is really special, isn’t it?
— Yes, their idea of betting on their own pupils is one of the best in football history. It makes the club unique. It deserves a lot of respect.
— What did Spain give to Liverpool in that Spanish era – before the arrival of Klopp?
— Spanish players and coaches had a tremendous impact on the club in 2005. Without them we would never have won the Champions League.
— Rafa Benitez is a real idol for the fans, right?
– Absolutely! Rafa is a true Liverpool legend. He didn’t do the same at Newcastle or Everton – his place was always here at Anfield.
— You played next to Xabi Alonso. How do you assess his path — as a football player and as a coach?
Xabi was a world-class player, and it seems that he is now following the same path as a coach. I wish him all the best – he has a difficult club, but he has all the qualities to succeed.
— Is the Premier League really far ahead of La Liga now?
– I think so. Both the money and the quality of the game confirm this. Look at the results – English clubs are currently leading the European arena.
— Lately, Real seems to have found the key to Liverpool, right?
– Yes, it is. One photo of me, where I am upset after a 2:5 defeat in May 2023, went viral on the Internet.
— Yes, when after the score 2:0 Liverpool conceded five…
– I usually go viral when Liverpool lose! (laughs) I’m already used to it.
— Last year’s match between Liverpool and Real Madrid ended 2-0 in favor of the English, although Mbappe and Salah missed the penalty. Does it give hope?
– Yes, this is a good example. Last season we saw a powerful Liverpool. Although the team is currently going through an unstable period, that match showed that Arne Slott can restore faith in the project.
– Would you like to play against Mbappe?
– Oh, no! (laughs) This is a global superstar. And to be honest, I’m glad I don’t have to go on the field against him.
— Are you upset that Trent Alexander-Arnold left the club?
– Yes, I was disappointed. It hurts me because he’s a local boy, born in Liverpool. I thought he would want to continue to bring success to his home club. But football is football.
— Is Bellingham the best English player today?
— Jude is, without a doubt, the most talented and the most famous. But for our coach Tuchel, the most important thing is the team, not individuals.
— This summer, Liverpool became the club with the largest spending on transfers — almost half a billion euros.
— Yes, I already said: Liverpool has completely turned into the “galacticos” of the Premier League. The club began to behave like Florentino Perez’s Real Madrid, Barcelona in its prime, Ferguson-era Manchester United or modern-day Man City.
— Who, in your opinion, is the main favorite of the Champions League this season?
— I think PSG. They look the most balanced.
— Why, in your opinion, Michael Owen, the winner of the Golden Ball, could not fully reveal himself in Real?
— To be honest, he performed very well, considering the number of goals in the few matches he played. His stats in Madrid are actually impressive.
– And yet – who will win in the match between Liverpool and Real?
— I will never bet against Liverpool, especially when the team plays at home in the Champions League!
AS