GERRARD CALLS FOR MAJOR SUMMER SPENDING
Steven Gerrard has called for the promised cash bonanza to boost Liverpool's future and mend his broken heart in the wake of the Anfield club's Champions League final defeat in Athens.
The weaknesses in boss Rafael Benitez’s squad were cruelly exposed by AC Milan’s 2-1 win in the Olympic Stadium to deny the Reds a repeat of their miracle in Istanbul two years ago as two goals from Filippo Inzaghi sealed the trophy for the Rossoneri.
Inzaghi’s first was a fortunate deflected effort off his chest and, despite Dirk Kuyt’s late headed goal, there was no need for extra-time on this occasion.
Now Gerrard, committed to signing a new five-year contract, believes Liverpool’s future is booming as he awaits the squad strengthening expected following the George Gillett-Tom Hicks takeover.
Gerrard said: “Since the takeover you can feel the excitement here, from fans to players. We know things will change and we must recover from a setback like this.
“I will bounce back, the team will also, and we will be a better side because of this.
“But this has been one of the lowest points in my career. We all have to pick ourselves up and get ourselves ready for next season.
“The main people here have said they will back Rafa (Benitez) and give him funds to strengthen the side. That’s exciting and has to happen, but at the moment my heart is in two pieces.”
Gerrard had been asked to play in a forward midfield role in Benitez’s tactical plan in the Greek capital but it was not the success hoped for.
But the 26-year-old said: “We played better than in the final two years ago - then we won it, this time we didn’t. That first goal was the chance for them to take control of the game.
“I was happy to play in that attacking role, I was asked to do a job and I worked my socks of.
“But we don’t want to make excuses, we must take it on the chin, give Milan credit and just say we are looking forward to next season when we can deliver for the fans.”
Gerrard now expects a summer of major transfer market activity and added: “There will definitely be changes, the future is really bright at Liverpool and that has been well documented.
“The people in charge are going to spend money to build the team and they are going to take this club to the next level.
“That is really exciting. The boss has meetings with the new owners all the time to tell them what is needed.
“I think it is a case of ‘watch this space’ because things are going to happen.
“At the moment it is all about handling setbacks like this. A defeat in a major final on such small details is hard to take and that is what is consuming me at the moment.”
Gerrard also admitted that his focus now was on achieving more success with both club and country, promising to win more silverware for the Anfield club and launch a serious title bid.
He said: “You have to take it on the chin. Milan won and we must accept that. I have got a few days now to pick myself up before the next England game, and I intend to do that.
“That will help me take some focus away from what has happened. But this will hurt me for a long time and I must console myself by knowing that the future is bright.
“We will be back, have no doubts about that. I intend to win many trophies for this club in the future.
“The league now must be our priority. It is for the manager, the players, the fans, the new people in charge. We have to improve in the Premier League and really make our mark.”
Liverpool never really recovered from conceding Milan’s first goal in the final seconds of a first half they had steadily taken control of.
Gerrard said: “We knew before the game it was going to be about small details. And they got that bit of luck to score at a really important time.
“We can be proud of the way we controlled periods of the game, but Milan are a great side and they just about deserved it.
“Our fans were brilliant, they are with you when you lift cups and they are with you when things don’t go so well. That is why they are the best in the world, they have been with us right from the qualifying round.
“And that is what is disappointing. We just did not deliver for them. But I am finding this difficult, I will have to get it out of my system very quickly so I can come back better next season.”
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yay! i hope that means livo WILL make some heavy transfers to really challenge for the title next season
Steven Gerrard has called for the promised cash bonanza to boost Liverpool's future and mend his broken heart in the wake of the Anfield club's Champions League final defeat in Athens.
The weaknesses in boss Rafael Benitez’s squad were cruelly exposed by AC Milan’s 2-1 win in the Olympic Stadium to deny the Reds a repeat of their miracle in Istanbul two years ago as two goals from Filippo Inzaghi sealed the trophy for the Rossoneri.
Inzaghi’s first was a fortunate deflected effort off his chest and, despite Dirk Kuyt’s late headed goal, there was no need for extra-time on this occasion.
Now Gerrard, committed to signing a new five-year contract, believes Liverpool’s future is booming as he awaits the squad strengthening expected following the George Gillett-Tom Hicks takeover.
Gerrard said: “Since the takeover you can feel the excitement here, from fans to players. We know things will change and we must recover from a setback like this.
“I will bounce back, the team will also, and we will be a better side because of this.
“But this has been one of the lowest points in my career. We all have to pick ourselves up and get ourselves ready for next season.
“The main people here have said they will back Rafa (Benitez) and give him funds to strengthen the side. That’s exciting and has to happen, but at the moment my heart is in two pieces.”
Gerrard had been asked to play in a forward midfield role in Benitez’s tactical plan in the Greek capital but it was not the success hoped for.
But the 26-year-old said: “We played better than in the final two years ago - then we won it, this time we didn’t. That first goal was the chance for them to take control of the game.
“I was happy to play in that attacking role, I was asked to do a job and I worked my socks of.
“But we don’t want to make excuses, we must take it on the chin, give Milan credit and just say we are looking forward to next season when we can deliver for the fans.”
Gerrard now expects a summer of major transfer market activity and added: “There will definitely be changes, the future is really bright at Liverpool and that has been well documented.
“The people in charge are going to spend money to build the team and they are going to take this club to the next level.
“That is really exciting. The boss has meetings with the new owners all the time to tell them what is needed.
“I think it is a case of ‘watch this space’ because things are going to happen.
“At the moment it is all about handling setbacks like this. A defeat in a major final on such small details is hard to take and that is what is consuming me at the moment.”
Gerrard also admitted that his focus now was on achieving more success with both club and country, promising to win more silverware for the Anfield club and launch a serious title bid.
He said: “You have to take it on the chin. Milan won and we must accept that. I have got a few days now to pick myself up before the next England game, and I intend to do that.
“That will help me take some focus away from what has happened. But this will hurt me for a long time and I must console myself by knowing that the future is bright.
“We will be back, have no doubts about that. I intend to win many trophies for this club in the future.
“The league now must be our priority. It is for the manager, the players, the fans, the new people in charge. We have to improve in the Premier League and really make our mark.”
Liverpool never really recovered from conceding Milan’s first goal in the final seconds of a first half they had steadily taken control of.
Gerrard said: “We knew before the game it was going to be about small details. And they got that bit of luck to score at a really important time.
“We can be proud of the way we controlled periods of the game, but Milan are a great side and they just about deserved it.
“Our fans were brilliant, they are with you when you lift cups and they are with you when things don’t go so well. That is why they are the best in the world, they have been with us right from the qualifying round.
“And that is what is disappointing. We just did not deliver for them. But I am finding this difficult, I will have to get it out of my system very quickly so I can come back better next season.”
_________________________________________________________________
yay! i hope that means livo WILL make some heavy transfers to really challenge for the title next season
