Lance Knight
08-16-2004, 02:21 PM
Quote:
Steven Gerrard has urged his Liverpool team-mates to stay positive and look to the future following the departure of Michael Owen.
Steven Gerrard: Staying a Red (GaryMPrior/GettyImages)
Striker Owen moved to Real Madrid, signing for the Spanish giants the same day Liverpool opened their Premiership campaign with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Gerrard considered quitting Anfield himself this summer, but eventually turned down the chance of a big-money move to Chelsea.
'Michael has gone and we have got to keep our chins up,' Gerrard, 24, told The Sun. 'It is disappointing to see him go but I have got to move on personally and so has the team.
'It happened quite quickly and the players were a bit shocked just like everybody else. We came back for pre-season and expected Michael to be our front man again. Within days, or a week at most, he was a Real Madrid player.
'We don't all sit around talking about each other's possible moves. People make their own decisions and keep things close to their chests.
'I can guarantee there was not much transfer talk with Michael last week. He has made his decision away from the rest of the lads and we wish him the best of luck in his new challenge.'
Gerrard has vowed not follow in Owen's footsteps away from Anfield as he insisted that he still has no regrets in rejecting a summer move to Chelsea.
However, he admitted that the pressure is now on Djibril Cisse and Milan Baros to produce the goals to ensure Owen is not sorely missed at Anfield.
Essentially, Gerrard will use this season to make up his mind on his future at the club, with the pressure - as ever - on new boss Rafael Benitez to produce immediate results.
However, the Liverpool captain has at least reassured his new manager that he has no intention of walking away either before the transfer window closes on August 31 or when it reopens in January.
As a result, the pressure is now on £14million signing Cisse, who scored on his Premiership debut at Spurs, and Baros to ensure that Liverpool do not suffer too badly from Owen's departure.
'Time will tell how it works out without Michael. He is a massive player and has been for us over the years,' observed Gerrard. 'He was our main goalscorer so there is a lot of responsibility now on Cisse and Baros.
'Cisse is definitely going to score goals. He is very quick and a threat to any defence but the pressure is on now especially with Michael going. Everyone knows Michael was our goal machine and we are hoping for goals from Cisse and Baros to make sure Michael is not missed.'
With Murphy also having been sold to Charlton, the `inner circle' of long-time homegrown players at the club has now halved, leaving Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
'I know, they are all going. I am on my own,' reflected Gerrard wryly. 'The manager has come in and decided to make a couple of changes and I am sure there are going to be some new faces which will help strengthen us.
'Time will tell whether we will miss Michael and whether my decision to stay was right. But I am confident in the decision I have made that I can be successful here. I won't be changing my mind now or at Christmas. I am happy where I am.'
Steven Gerrard has urged his Liverpool team-mates to stay positive and look to the future following the departure of Michael Owen.
Steven Gerrard: Staying a Red (GaryMPrior/GettyImages)
Striker Owen moved to Real Madrid, signing for the Spanish giants the same day Liverpool opened their Premiership campaign with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Gerrard considered quitting Anfield himself this summer, but eventually turned down the chance of a big-money move to Chelsea.
'Michael has gone and we have got to keep our chins up,' Gerrard, 24, told The Sun. 'It is disappointing to see him go but I have got to move on personally and so has the team.
'It happened quite quickly and the players were a bit shocked just like everybody else. We came back for pre-season and expected Michael to be our front man again. Within days, or a week at most, he was a Real Madrid player.
'We don't all sit around talking about each other's possible moves. People make their own decisions and keep things close to their chests.
'I can guarantee there was not much transfer talk with Michael last week. He has made his decision away from the rest of the lads and we wish him the best of luck in his new challenge.'
Gerrard has vowed not follow in Owen's footsteps away from Anfield as he insisted that he still has no regrets in rejecting a summer move to Chelsea.
However, he admitted that the pressure is now on Djibril Cisse and Milan Baros to produce the goals to ensure Owen is not sorely missed at Anfield.
Essentially, Gerrard will use this season to make up his mind on his future at the club, with the pressure - as ever - on new boss Rafael Benitez to produce immediate results.
However, the Liverpool captain has at least reassured his new manager that he has no intention of walking away either before the transfer window closes on August 31 or when it reopens in January.
As a result, the pressure is now on £14million signing Cisse, who scored on his Premiership debut at Spurs, and Baros to ensure that Liverpool do not suffer too badly from Owen's departure.
'Time will tell how it works out without Michael. He is a massive player and has been for us over the years,' observed Gerrard. 'He was our main goalscorer so there is a lot of responsibility now on Cisse and Baros.
'Cisse is definitely going to score goals. He is very quick and a threat to any defence but the pressure is on now especially with Michael going. Everyone knows Michael was our goal machine and we are hoping for goals from Cisse and Baros to make sure Michael is not missed.'
With Murphy also having been sold to Charlton, the `inner circle' of long-time homegrown players at the club has now halved, leaving Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
'I know, they are all going. I am on my own,' reflected Gerrard wryly. 'The manager has come in and decided to make a couple of changes and I am sure there are going to be some new faces which will help strengthen us.
'Time will tell whether we will miss Michael and whether my decision to stay was right. But I am confident in the decision I have made that I can be successful here. I won't be changing my mind now or at Christmas. I am happy where I am.'