Rangers manager and Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard has heaped praise on Jürgen Klopp, admitting that he often wonders whether he regrets leaving the Reds a year too early.
The former skipper made 710 appearances for his boyhood club before departing for LA Galaxy in the summer of 2015. However, just a few months before the German manager replaced Brendan Rodgers in the Anfield dugout.
Before departing stateside, Gerrard decided against signing a one-year extension at the club, meaning that he would end up missing out on working under Klopp’s guidance.
He said: “I always have little thoughts – should I have stayed at Liverpool and signed the year extension?”
“Would I have been able to have those cameos off the bench under Jurgen Klopp as a squad player. These things always cross my mind. I made decisions. I am proud of my Liverpool career and my managerial career and see where that journey takes me.”
Gerrard, who has entered his second year of management with Scottish giants Rangers, also said:
“These things always cross my mind but, look, I made decisions. I am very proud of my Liverpool career, I am very proud of where I am up to now in my management.
“I want to give that my full focus and keep trying to learn and grow and improve and see where that journey takes me now.”
“You always have little moments, imagine I stayed at Liverpool a bit longer and got 15-20 minutes off the bench under Jurgen. Of course it has crossed my mind, I would have loved that.”
Despite his decision to leave Anfield, Liverpool’s 3rd highest appearance maker remains a fan favourite, receiving a standing ovation from both supporters in the Liverpool v Rangers legend match over the weekend. His Glasgow side currently sit top of the Scottish Premier League table, two points ahead of arch rivals Celtic.
[Photo by Biser Todorov – Creative Commons]
