[lfc-news] Gerrard determined to lay his recurring bad dream to rest - Guardian

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The Guardian, 27 April 2005
Gerrard determined to lay his recurring bad dream to rest
The captain can put his Cardiff own-goal out of mind
By Dominic Fifield

Steven Gerrard has a recurring nightmare. In it he leaps amid a gaggle
of blue-shirted opponents, intent upon planting a defensive header clear
of the six-yard box, only to flounder, agonisingly, in midair. His world
lurches into slow motion, the loose ball glancing from the top of his
crew cut to fly into his own net. With it, a glistening trophy is
cruelly snatched away.

Gasping back into reality usually brings no relief, with Chelsea still
pursuing him through his waking hours. But an opportunity to make amends
beckons. At Stamford Bridge tonight he can begin to exorcise the painful
memories of February's Carling Cup final.

"If you look into Stevie's eyes you can see a determination to put
things right," said Rafael Benítez, who had watched his captain's late
own-goal restore parity in Cardiff before the game slipped away in
extra-time. "Talking to him, watching him in training, he so clearly
wants to do well."

Resolve smoulders in this Liverpool side, but Gerrard has more reason
than most to excel in the first all-English Champions League semi-final.
Even outrageous optimists on Merseyside could hardly have envisaged a
place in the last four of Europe's elite this season. As a club who have
not featured on this stage for 20 years contemplate unlikely glory the
captain's future is effectively being determined in the gaze of the
watching world.

To mention Gerrard without alluding to Chelsea's interest in him is
impossible. Last summer the 24-year-old was paraded at an Anfield press
conference to reiterate that his future lay with the club he has
supported since his youth, despite Jose Mourinho's ambition to lure him
south. Since then, he has had to endure his suitors sweeping all before
them while Liverpool falter.

The midfielder's mood has fluctuated as much as his team's form. He has
rarely appeared happier than he did on the Tarmac at Cologne airport
after the knockout win over Leverkusen as he thrilled at the possibility
of being drawn against Milan or Internazionale in the quarter-finals so
as to play at San Siro. Yet back in December, when a two-goal win was
needed against Olympiakos to propel Benítez's side out of the group
stage, his frustrated ambition had surfaced in a pre-match admission
that he wanted to be in a team challenging consistently for the highest
honours. That was a warning.

Politics weigh heavy on the Huyton-born midfielder's thought process.
Gerrard, like Robbie Fowler before him, has established iconic status in
his home city to the extent that some would consider his upping sticks
to the capital a heinous act. So peeved have a minority of supporters
become with the constant link to Chelsea that the ludicrous conspiracy
theory was aired on radio phone-ins that the captain deliberately
converted the own-goal in Cardiff. That allegation cut the player deeply
and prompted his fierce celebration - shirt in mouth and pointing to the
badge - after scoring in the derby last month.

Other fans would accept the realities of modern-day football. Should
Chelsea jettison Liverpool from Europe, he would have proof that his
thirst for trophies could be quenched only at Stamford Bridge. His body
language has betrayed his doubts at times this term, notably in his
black mood after Saturday's meek defeat at Crystal Palace. Shoulders
hunched, anger etched across his face, sometimes staying at Liverpool
must have been difficult to justify.

Yet it would still be unthinkable for the England international to leave
this summer should Liverpool win the Champions League. "As a local lad,
to lift the European Cup was the proudest moment of my life," said Phil
Thompson, who experienced as much as Liverpool's captain in 1981. "If
Steven could do that I don't think there'd be any issue in his mind. If
he was to lift the European Cup you could hand him the pen and paper
then and there and he'd sign."

For all that Chelsea remain confident of eventually signing the player,
no deal has as yet been struck, even privately. Gerrard has not started
looking for accommodation in the capital, though headlines suggesting
otherwise have taken their toll psychologically.

"I don't think he's thinking about his future," said Benítez. "His mind
is on winning this game. It's difficult for a player at his level if
everybody's talking about his future, but he knows how important this
tie is for our club, the fans, the players.

"He has a determination to win this match. With Xabi [Alonso] and Stevie
both fit we know we can play good football, and that makes it easier to
win. We controlled the game against Chelsea at Anfield with them playing
together until Alonso was injured, so they have seen only about 20
minutes of the Liverpool we want. I hope they'll see 180 minutes in this
tie."

In that midfield axis lies Liverpool's hope. Alonso and Gerrard
complement each other superbly, the Spaniard rarely surrendering
possession as he calmly dictates play from deep, the Englishman all
leggy energy marauding forward with menace. They unsettled Chelsea at
Anfield on new year's day until Frank Lampard cracked Alonso's ankle.

Those 28 minutes when the hosts thrilled and the visitors creaked
represent the only period in five hours of football between the sides
this season when Gerrard and Alonso have worked in tandem. "Chelsea do
not know us," said Alonso. "The three previous matches have been very
close but we've never had our key players in the side. Maybe things will
be different now."

Liverpool must hope as much. Gerrard departed the Millennium Stadium
with tears stinging his eyes, his chance to lift silverware as
Liverpool's captain apparently denied and the crowing of Chelsea
supporters, convinced he would one day be theirs, ringing in his ears.
Over the next week, starting at Stamford Bridge tonight, it will become
easier to distinguish rumour from reality.

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