Gerrard wants central role
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 26, 2009 00:00
WATFORD, England - With six goals in Liverpool's last three matches, Steven Gerrard has strengthened his case to play in central midfield for England.
Although half of those goals came from penalties, the 28-year-old Gerrard's advanced position has helped put Liverpool back in the English Premier League title race.
His play has made him indispensable to Liverpool since manager Rafa Benitez gave him the freedom to roam, bursting through to torment defenders while supporting striker Fernando Torres. But his impact on the England team has been less explosive, primarily because he has been shunted to the left flank by coach Fabio Capello.
"I played a couple of years on the right when Rafa first came. I had a little moan and a little complain that I was there every week and he said to me when I get strong enough players to play out wide I want you in a central position, attacking," Gerrard said. "Maybe when I was a bit younger I was a bit selfish and thinking of myself a bit too much when he was playing me out of position.
"Maybe I should have taken a deep breath and realized it was for the team. At the moment he is playing me in my favorite position, I'm the captain and we are winning. It's really good."
England then has a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on April 1.
"You get the best out of me when I'm free to run at defenders and cause danger in the attacking third," Gerrard said at the England team hotel north of London. "I'd love nothing better than to be given the chance in that role (for England) to try to find that club form.
"I'm desperate to win something with England. When we've been knocked out of tournaments the hurt and the pain is exactly the same as when you don't achieve something with your club," he said.
His play has made him indispensable to Liverpool since manager Rafa Benitez gave him the freedom to roam, bursting through to torment defenders while supporting striker Fernando Torres. But his impact on the England team has been less explosive, primarily because he has been shunted to the left flank by coach Fabio Capello.
"I played a couple of years on the right when Rafa first came. I had a little moan and a little complain that I was there every week and he said to me when I get strong enough players to play out wide I want you in a central position, attacking," Gerrard said. "Maybe when I was a bit younger I was a bit selfish and thinking of myself a bit too much when he was playing me out of position.
"Maybe I should have taken a deep breath and realized it was for the team. At the moment he is playing me in my favorite position, I'm the captain and we are winning. It's really good."
England then has a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on April 1.
"You get the best out of me when I'm free to run at defenders and cause danger in the attacking third," Gerrard said at the England team hotel north of London. "I'd love nothing better than to be given the chance in that role (for England) to try to find that club form.
"I'm desperate to win something with England. When we've been knocked out of tournaments the hurt and the pain is exactly the same as when you don't achieve something with your club," he said.