Steven Gerrard admits that he would have had a more successful career if he left Liverpool when Jose Mourinho came calling in 2005, but said he has no regrets about his decision to stay with his boyhood club.
The former Liverpool captain was speaking to former England teammate Rio Ferdinand in an interview to be broadcast on BT Sport tonight.
The Daily Mail carries excerpts from the interview today, including Gerrard’s thoughts on Mourinho.
“I love the manager, I love the man,” Gerrard said. “I have regrets for not playing for the man and the coach because I know he would have made me a better player.
“I know he would have had more trophies to what I’ve already won.”
Despite knowing this Gerrard insists he is happy with the decision he made.
“Looking back now I have no regrets not signing for Chelsea,” Gerrard explained.
“I’ve probably underachieved at times in certain years with Liverpool but for me it is not all about winning trophies. It’s also about memories and love and what those memories meant.
Steven Gerrard kisses the Champions League trophy in 2005.
“Winning four or five trophies with Liverpool means an awful lot more than winning 10 or 11 with Chelsea”.
Ferdinand also asked Gerrard about the infamous ‘slip’ against Chelsea and seeing the Premier League title slip away in May 2014.
Exclusive interview with myself and Steven Gerrard tonight on @BTSport1 @ 10pm following Eng U21 v Italy U21 live – very interesting!
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 24, 2015
“I think in that game against Chelsea with the slip, our tactical approach was inexperienced for the whole game – going out to try and blow Chelsea away,” Gerrard explained.
“We heard Chelsea would possibly make a few changes and we had the confidence to blow them away, but we underestimated the power of Mourinho. He came and spoilt the game. He ruined it. He even said that they came to spoil the party.”
He admitted it was hard to take that is was his error that led to the crucial goal.
“The slip happened at a bad time, it was cruel for me personally,” he said. “
“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about if that hadn’t happened. Would things have been different? Maybe, I don’t know.
“We still had the time to get the draw that we needed. The inexperience showed from myself having not been in many title races and the inexperience of the team. Our reaction was to go chase it, hunt it down and try to make up for that cruel moment.
“We lost our way. We were gung-ho instead of being controlled.”
Gerrard said goodbye to Liverpool and Anfield at the end of last season and is now preparing for a new career in the MLS, playing with Ireland’s Robbie Keane at LA Galaxy.
‘Rio Meets Steven Gerrard’ on BT Sport 1 – 10pm on Wednesday June 24.