‘I’m going to Anfield to win – and take the maximum points, Gerrard declares
Steven Gerrard has insisted he will have no divided loyalties when he takes his new Aston Villa team to face former club Liverpool next month.
In his first in-depth interview since being appointed as Dean Smith’s successor, the Reds and England legend outlined his excitement at taking the job and revealed his side will be targeting three points from their trip to Merseyside.
The testing clash will be his fifth at the helm at Villa Park, and Gerrard has been quick to reveal to supporters and his players that his focus is firmly on achieving success at the expense of his old team.
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Questioned on the build-up to his return by VillaTV, Gerrard, 41, said: ‘I don’t think me or anyone else will be able to control the noise. For me, that’s not important.
‘What is important is the chance to go to Anfield and win, to take maximum points, which is the attitude and mentality we have going into every game. It is what it is.
‘I want to win every game. My priority and focus, and everything I will give on a daily basis, will be for Aston Villa. One thing I can guarantee the supporters, the players and the staff here is that when I commit to something, I’m all in.’
“The excitement levels are really, really high. I’m very hungry and very ambitious and the start can’t come quick enough.” 💪
Villa parted ways with Smith earlier this month after a horror run of five Premier League defeats in a row, which left them hovering just above the drop zone in 16th, according to Daily Mail.
Gerrard was immediately identified as the club’s first-choice target to take over, with owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens impressed by his success with Rangers.
Christian Purslow, Villa’s chief executive, also favoured hiring the all-time great.
Negotiations were quickly wrapped up, with Rangers paid £2.5million in compensation, and Gerrard has now admitted he is relishing getting started.
‘I think Aston Villa sells itself,’ he added. ‘It’s an iconic football club that I know pretty well from the outside. I’m excited to get involved inside, start building relationships, get on the training pitch and get started.
‘The excitement levels are really, really high. I’m very ambitious and the start can’t come quick enough.’
During his lengthy sit-down with the club’s in-house media channel, the iconic ex-midfielder also said he has taken inspiration from working with coaches in the past.
‘I’ve been lucky enough to have worked with a lot of elite managers,’ Gerrard said. ‘I think it’s very important for me to be myself, to put my own stamp on things.
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‘What I am guilty of is taking things and learning a lot from all the managers – not just the ones I’ve worked with from a close point of view, managers around the game.’
Gerrard topped the shortlist ahead of Brentford boss Thomas Frank and Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand – although the latter had no interest in taking the job.
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez was another candidate – but held reservations.
In the end, though, it was Gerrard who was appointed and in his unveiling, he described himself as feeling ‘immensely proud’.