Author Topic: Gerrard explains Liverpool U-turn (Read 147 times)

Mac 10 † · « **on:** July 06, 2005, 09:04:43 AM »

Gerrard explains Liverpool U-turn

Steven Gerrard has revealed he admitted he wanted to quit Liverpool because he feared the club did not want him.

Liverpool's 25-year-old captain performed a dramatic U-turn and decided to stay at Anfield only hours after announcing he wanted to leave.

He told the Liverpool Echo: "The last five or six weeks were the hardest of my life because I wrongly believed the club didn't want me."

Gerrard is now expected to sign a new deal until 2009 on Friday.

And he insisted: "This won't be happening again next summer or ever again."

He added: "I admitted I've made mistakes and the club has acknowledged they've made some mistakes as well. But now we've sorted it out and I'm doing what I wanted to do all along, which is stay at Liverpool."

And chairman David Moores, in a rare public statement, said: "He's changed his mind because he knew what he'd miss if he went elsewhere.

"He was confused, but we have kept our captain and it means a hell of a lot to me.

"We'd rather have done without it, but it will never happen again. It's end of story."

Gerrard has now agreed a new contract worth about £100,000-a-week on Friday.

He said: "I don't want to get into attaching blame to anyone. If I blame anyone, it's myself.

"I wanted my future sorted out as soon as possible after the Champions League final and when that wasn't the case, the longer it went on, the more misunderstandings there were.

"There was confusion and doubt in my mind. I had discussions with the manager, but the reports of bust-ups are complete nonsense. Now I know how much the club wants me."

And Gerrard revealed he is ready to sign his new contract as quickly as possible.

He said: "I'll be signing the deal, maybe even today (Wednesday). I'd also like it known there are no clauses in that contract.

"I've committed my long-term future to the club and I want all the speculation to end now. This is what I've wanted all along."

Gerrard now hopes to put the crisis behind him after threatening to leave Liverpool for the second successive summer.

"I feel there is a weight off my mind and I just want us to put this mess behind us," he said.

"I've only one medal left to win at Liverpool and that's the Premiership. That's what I want more than anything and Liverpool is the only place I've ever wanted to win it.

"I know there are some fans who'll be supportive and some who won't be. All I can say is it's been a difficult period for me, but I know I've made the right decision.

"In my heart, this is my club. I want to help bring success here for them and, for their sake and my own, I never want to go through this again."