Gerrard makes it very clear how he feels about Klopp and the Liverpool job in opening Aston Villa presser š«
Let's first see how the ex-No.8 fares in the West Midlands before calling for a fairytale reunion
Imagine having spent your first week at your brand spanking new job (in what is arguably perceived to be an upgrade on your prior role - no disrespect meant to Rangers), only to be questioned about the next job far off in the distance.
Two-and-a-half years, to be precise, as far as Steven Gerrardās concerned if he indeed does have one eye on the Liverpool job beyond the expiration date of incumbent boss Jurgen Kloppās current terms.
Even if it was the case - and no one is denying that the temptation wonāt be there in the summer of 2024, should Klopp call it a day - youād be foolish to admit your intentions to sail off into the sunset with a new employer in future.
Forget instantly ruining your relationship with the fans. What player is going to be fully committed to a manager whoās intent on departing in just over two yearsā time?
As such, Gerrardās answer to a reporterās question, following such a line of inquiry in his opening press conference as Aston Villa manager, was expected.
āVery unfair,ā the former England international quipped when asked how āfairā it would be to suggest that the Aston Villa job was just another āstepping stoneā to the big one: the head coach position at his old stomping ground, Liverpool.
In the journalistās defence, one can certainly understand the allure of the question given Gerrardās obvious connection to the red half of Merseyside.
Thereās a sense of unfinished business at Liverpool.
Despite taking home the Champions League in the famous āMiracle of Istanbulā, amongst other prestigious domestic trophies, part of Gerrardās fame lies in his failure to secure the one accolade that mattered most - the Premier League title.
The chance to be involved around or in the side that broke our 30-year English top-flight duck has been and gone.
Jurgen Klopp will be forever remembered as the man that slapped awake the sleeping giant that was Liverpool, forced it into a pair of robust but sparkly pyjamas, and dragged it kicking and screaming into the exalted European scene.
We very much belong alongside the ranks of European heavyweights that have populated the knockout stages of the continentās premier competition; our sixth Champions League trophy is more than proof of that fact.
āI donāt think thereās anything wrong in football to have dreams and aspirations,ā Gerrard elaborated on his opening answer.
āBut as I say, Liverpool have got a world-class coach that theyāre very happy with.
āIf he was to sign a lifetime deal right now, Iād be very happy for them and him.ā
Hello, hello, Steven!
Hardly an answer that rules out the possibility of another managerial switch in time, however, the respect Gerrard has for Jurgen Klopp is absolutely without question. He did, after all, spend some amount of time in his vicinity as a youth coach prior to taking his first management job in Glasgow.
Equally, whilst he canāt be expected to disrespect his new club or its fans (especially not within earshot of Aston Villaās chief executive, Christian Purslow), Gerrard canāt be expected to outright rule out his ādreams and aspirationsā.
The 41-year-old was never going to come out in front of reporters and burn a Liverpool scarf to demonstrate his loyalty to the cause.
When the time is right, however, our former No.8 will be more than tempted by the possibility of a return to his boyhood club.
For now, though, there are no doubts in our minds that the coach is more than committed to the job at hand, for which we wish him all the best of luck with.
Letās first see how he fares in the West Midlands before calling for a fairytale reunion.
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