Gerrard leaving Liverpool official (3 Viewers)

Nicole

Senior Member
#1
Sep 16, 2004
7,561
#1
Steven Gerrard has released a statement to Sky Sports News explaining why he wants to leave Liverpool.

The England midfielder admits the decision to quit his boyhood idols has been a gut-wrenching one and that his initial thought after the UEFA Champions League victory was to remain at Anfield.

However, he has changed his mind, as he did last term when snubbing a move to Chelsea to commit his future to the Merseysiders.

"The last six weeks have been the toughest of my life," he informed Sky Sports News. "The decision I have come to has been the hardest decision I have ever had to make.

"I fully intended to sign a new contract after the Champions League final but the events of the past five or six weeks have changed all that.

"I have too much respect for the club and the people at it to get involved in a slanging match."

Gerrard inspired Liverpool's remarkable second half comeback against Milan in Istanbul and has been a key figure for Rafa Benitez's side.

Chelsea and Real Madrid are leading the chase for the midfield icon's signature as Liverpool fans come to terms with their favourite son's decision to turn his back on the European Cup holders.
 

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Maresca

Maresca

Senior Member
#6
Aug 23, 2004
8,235
#6
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has made an amazing U-turn by deciding to stay at the club.

Gerrard had looked to be on his way out of Anfield after telling the club he wanted to leave on Tuesday.

The England international rejected Liverpool's offer of a new deal late on Monday night, paving the way for a move out of Anfield.

Chelsea had seen a bid for the midfielder turned down on Tuesday and they looked to be favourites to land his signature.

However, Gerrard after mulling over his future, has decided to stay at Liverpool and the news is a massive boost for Rafa Benitez and everyone at the club with The Reds beginning the defence of their European Cup next week.

Reds chief executive Rick Parry revealed the amazing twist on Wednesday morning, claiming Gerrard was now set to sign a new deal.

"Steven's decided to stay," Parry told Sky Sports News. "He realises how much the club means to him; genuinely, it's a little bit like last year, perhaps even more dramatic.

"I think the language he's been using to us even when he said he was going, he never said he wanted to go as he said it was so difficult, I don't think I can come back; he never said he wanted to go.

"The last 24 hours he has reflected on it and thought it through and he wants to stay.

"I couldn't be more delighted and, from my point of view, it is what we wanted all along.

"I apologise to Stevie if I've misread his emotions. I guess I thought after Istanbul I thought we knew where we were going, but it was obviously praying on his mind.

"He was anxious and he genuinely felt club wasn't as enthusiastic as we might be about keeping him and there were one or two issues with the contract he took to be perhaps a lack of enthuasism on our part, which it wasn't, but he understands that now.

"We had some emotional moments together and cleared all that and I don't think it will happen again.

"There were a few late night phone calls and a few very early morning calls this morning and I think he just wants a couple of days to go away and clear his head now.

"It hasn't been easy for him but, as far as we're concerned, it's the right decision."

Parry believes Gerrard will now sign a new improved deal to extend his stay at Anfield.

"I think it's hammered (a new deal). I don't think it's an issue," added Parry. "We all understand what is required and that's the easy bit.

"I think to be fair to Stevie, he's not staying because he was concerned about negativity. The point I made to Stevie on Monday was think of the fans in Istanbul, think of the positives, how can you leave that? And I think that's been on his mind.

"It is not a decision for negative reasons he found it complicated but it was always difficult for him to say he wanted to go and I'm more certain than ever that he's fully committed and this is where he wants to be."

When asked if the latest development would mean Chelsea and Real Madrid could forget about signing him, Parry added: "Absolutely."

Gerrard released a statement defending his agent Struan Marshall from any blame in the transfer saga.

"There seems to be a lot of blame heading in his (Marshall's) direction over recent events," said Gerrard.

"I can say from the bottom of my heart that he has carried out my wishes and I want to thank him for his support during this difficult period."
 
Maresca

Maresca

Senior Member
#7
Aug 23, 2004
8,235
#7
Gerrard - I could not leave

LiverpoolLiverpool captain Steven Gerrard has explained his decision to stay at the club insisting he could not bear to leave the club.

Gerrard made the dramatic U-turn to pledge his future to the club on Wednesday just 24 hours after asking to leave Anfield.

Chelsea were thought to be leading the chase for Gerrard after having a massive bid turned down on Tuesday.

However, after deliberating over the decision, Gerrard has now decided to stay with his boyhood heroes.

The 25-year-old revealed he is set to sign a new four-year deal with the European champions and hopes the deal will finally put an end to all the speculation regarding his future.

"I had the whole of yesterday to think about my decision and what I was doing. I turned off my phone and my television and went through it all in my head again," said Gerrard.

"After considering everything that's gone on, I just couldn't go through with it and leave this club.

"I never said I wanted to leave in the first place, but I'd felt I was being backed into a corner and had to push things on.

"I know it was going to look as though I wanted to go, but at one stage I thought I had no choice. When I thought about it more, I just wanted to stay.

"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."

Gerrard is now looking forward to putting the whole episode behind him and lead Liverpool to a Premiership challenge this season.

"I've now apologised to Liverpool and they've apologised to me, which is important," added Gerrard.

"I was left feeling so confused yesterday. I was receiving all kinds of advice and information from so many people, but I just had to sit down with my girlfriend and advisor and think it all through again for myself. I was just thinking 'how have we got into this mess and what's the best way out of it?'.

" I knew I had to do what I'd intended doing all along and sign a new contract.

"I made the decision last night (Tuesday) that I couldn't leave this club. I love Liverpool so much. This is my club. My heart is with Liverpool. I don't need to tell anyone that.

"Everyone who knows me can see how I feel. The last thing I wanted to do was leave, I just couldn't do it."

The inspirational midfielder admitted the reaction of fans to a possible move had played a part in his decision to stay.

"My relationship with the supporters has always been fantastic and I knew a lot of people would be disappointed if I'd decided to go. I thought about the fans and the future," said Gerrard.

"As I'd said all along, I never wanted to leave. I don't want to go into details now about what happened over the last few weeks because the most important thing now is we can sort it out.

"I'm going to sign a new contract and, like I've always done, will be doing everything possible to make Liverpool successful again.

"It's been a bit of a mess but now we can sort it out and move forward. As I've said, we can all learn things from this.

"Now we all want to look forward."

Gerrard also disclosed that the new contract on offer would have no clauses included in it as has been suggested in some quarters.

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

"This won't be happening again next summer or ever again, so far as I'm concerned.

"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.

"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."
-----------------------------------------------------

I am happy to see that there is still somting like this in football. Real love to a team..
 
OP

Nicole

Senior Member
Thread Starter #8
Sep 16, 2004
7,561
  • Thread Starter
    • Thread Starter #8
    I saw this on the news...

    Although alot of people in the UK think the whole thing was a farce to throw Chelsea off
     
    JCK

    JCK

    Biased
    JCK
    #13
    May 11, 2004
    125,395
    #13
    ++ [ originally posted by Nicole ] ++
    I saw this on the news...

    Although alot of people in the UK think the whole thing was a farce to throw Chelsea off
    Click to expand...
    I did not get that :confused:
     
    baggio

    baggio

    Senior Member
    #18
    Jun 3, 2003
    19,250
    #18
    Honestly, i just feel Gerrard is being a prick. His market price is way more than what it should be really. He is good, but certainly not the best. And i think id attribute the whole change of heart to him finally getting the 100000 a week deal, which i doubt he would've gotten any other place, except his hometown club. All the speak of how he couldnt leave and his love for Liverpool is just a cover for the fact, that he would've been away from his hometown, and wouldnt be able to throw his wait around as he is doing here.
     
    Chxta

    Chxta

    Onye kwe, Chi ya ekwe
    #19
    Nov 1, 2004
    12,088
    #19
    He's a good player no doubt, but I couldn't care less, he's not that good. The guy I want from Pool is Xabi Alonso!
     
    Yezkimov

    Yezkimov

    Junior Member
    #20
    Jul 5, 2005
    182
    #20
    Xabi is the good, maybe the great, but i would love Milan to get the djimi traore so everytime we pklay against the milan, he puts it in his own goal, like dumb
     
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