Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has played in many tough games over the last 12 years, but there's one particular game right at the start of his senior career that he classifies as one of the 'hardest' times he's ever had on a football pitch.
The game in question was Liverpool's 2-1 defeat to Spurs at White Hart Lane in December 1998. Gerrard played at right back, and was substituted after 55 minutes after being run ragged by David Ginola. Gerrard remembers:
"It was one of the hardest games I've ever played. I think it's the only time I've ever been happy to see my number come up to be substituted.
"He [Ginola] was running inside me and outside me, and he was too strong. My body couldn't cope with the demands of that game.
"That certainly takes some time getting used to when you're young. It was certainly an eye-opener and a shock for me, but I feel with time and games and experience, your body gets used to it, and your brain adapts to what's needed week in, week out".
Gerrard started 5 games during the 98-99 season, and Liverpool lost 4 and drew 1, which must have been demotivating for him at the time. Still, he stuck at it, worked on his game, and the rest is (glorious) history*.
* Apart from the double flirtation with Chelsea, but we'll just pretend that didn't happen :-)
Jaimie Kanwar
The game in question was Liverpool's 2-1 defeat to Spurs at White Hart Lane in December 1998. Gerrard played at right back, and was substituted after 55 minutes after being run ragged by David Ginola. Gerrard remembers:
"It was one of the hardest games I've ever played. I think it's the only time I've ever been happy to see my number come up to be substituted.
"He [Ginola] was running inside me and outside me, and he was too strong. My body couldn't cope with the demands of that game.
"That certainly takes some time getting used to when you're young. It was certainly an eye-opener and a shock for me, but I feel with time and games and experience, your body gets used to it, and your brain adapts to what's needed week in, week out".
Gerrard started 5 games during the 98-99 season, and Liverpool lost 4 and drew 1, which must have been demotivating for him at the time. Still, he stuck at it, worked on his game, and the rest is (glorious) history*.
* Apart from the double flirtation with Chelsea, but we'll just pretend that didn't happen :-)
Jaimie Kanwar
2008?
ReplyDeleteGood spot. I meant 1998. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHe's lying - it's wingers that will track your runs and work hard to chase you down that give you tough games, not these lazy, fancy dan guys with skill and ability to run with the ball themselves. He needs to try playing against a 'winger' like Kuyt if he thinks playing against Ginola was tough!
ReplyDeletehopefully the beginner's statistics as shown by gerrard at youth will be similar with AC
ReplyDeleteIf Gerrard could cope up physically with the likes of Ginola, what more can you expect from Lucas, a handicap of sorts.
ReplyDeleteLucas isn't a Full-back lol
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't let it lie!
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Brehon Law by the way? Did the Calpol people finally realise it was him who stole all those crates?
ReplyDelete"David ginola he fell ova"
ReplyDeletegive it a break lucas lucas lucas your like a broken record
ReplyDeletewow sad your slating lucas again go support united or chelsea u plastic fan
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Jaimie, only you could make a negative headline, out of a quote about a game from13 years ago!!!
ReplyDeleteI wish you would drag the competition down instead!
I hate Ashfah Hussain
ReplyDelete