On the 7th October, Rio Ferdinand released an interview with Steven Gerrard. In the interview Stevie G talks about many things, but one topic in particular took social media by storm… his honest opinion on Trent’s decision to leave his boyhood club for Real Madrid.
Gerrard's Opinion
To start off with, Gerrard did not fully go at Trent like some are suggesting, he used a balanced way of thinking and did offer his thoughts on why it was so heated when he left and why LFC fans were so emotional.
"I can understand it from being in Trent's shoes. I can understand it. I get it. His best mate plays there. Maybe he wants to challenge himself. He's won everything at Liverpool, so there's a part of me that really understands it.”
This was his first say on the matter, like anyone who understands football he knows that the allure of Real is huge.
This quote in itself shows that Gerrard has looked at it from every point of view, he even recalls the times when he was approached by the likes of Chelsea and even Real Madrid.
He has the personal experience to be able to give the whole footballing world what this is really like for someone at their boyhood club.
After a balanced look at the situation, Gerrard, like many have done, “put my Liverpool hat back on, I think, what are you doing? What are you doing? You're (at) arguably one of the best teams in Europe. You're winning things that I sit here now and still dream of winning. You're winning European Cups. You're one of the main men. The fans adore you. What are you doing? But this is with my Liverpool hat on, because I love Liverpool Football Club.”
""I think, what are you doing? What are you doing? You're (at) arguably one of the best teams in Europe. You're winning things that I sit here now and still dream of winning. You're winning European Cups. You're one of the main men. The fans adore you. What are you doing? But this is with my Liverpool hat on, because I love Liverpool Football Club.” "Steven Gerrard on TAA leaving
The first signs of real emotion from the Liverpool hero, as mentioned prior, he understands the move, but like many, questions the timing.
The last major thought from Gerrard is the fact that Trent “took a big risk on. He's an extremely good footballer, a very talented footballer. One of the best passers I've ever seen and I've played with some good passers. He's up there with them. He's in the conversation with Beckham and Scholes, no problem. But to lead Liverpool Football Club where he was at in the prime years, getting off with a new contract, he took a risk on in my opinion. And I think he's living that risk now. I hope it works for him because I love the kid. Love the kid to bits. I wouldn't have done it."
As a final thought from Gerrard, it perfectly sums the saga up, from a footballing perspective, it’s a risk, a club like Real Madrid will have no problems moving on from a £10 million signing. As we are seeing at the moment, it seems like Trent is being lost in the big show of Real Madrid.
Throughout this segment you can see the emotional draw this saga can have on someone so close and related to the situation.
As someone who dealt with the pressures of being a homegrown star at Liverpool Football Club he realizes the weight of expectation from the fans, it was inevitable that the fans’ disappointment and criticism would show but did lambast
“The abuse. All that, I don't agree with that with any player… That's got to stop.” He knows the pain and hurt that fans feel but with such a significant figure like that saying this, it now feels like many will take heed and move on from the barrage of abuse directed towards the player.
When he relates to the situation it feels like a directed question towards Trent, he questions his identity and loyalty to the club that gave him so much.
It feeds into a much larger narrative surrounding LFC, what it means to be ‘one of us’. To be one of the lucky few to wear the famous red shirt, and so easily throw that out the window to play for another club in another country.
In his final thought, he raises questions of the risk vs reward. He frames Trent’s move as a “big risk,” implying he admires the ambition but worries about consequences.
Look at Michael Owen, Eden Hazard and from a different club, Phillipe Coutinho, all players in the prime of their careers getting lost in the circuses of Real Madrid and Barcelona, to then be shipped out very easily by the same clubs.
Gerrard knows Trent is good enough, but so were these other players, it’s about whether Trent can offer more to the club than what his teammates at right back or midfield can.