A deep-rooted player understands the larger purpose of soccer. Steven Gerrard may not have won the Premier League title for Liverpool, but his dedication was second to none. The former England captain, in a staggering revelation, gave a straightforward reply to the world’s best manager then, Sir Alex Ferguson, that showcases his loyalty to the Reds.

Players like Michael Owen and Paul Ince were a few who played for both clubs. But there are some players who always gain the eye of the enemy to covet. However, Steven Gerrard’s statement not to give in may count as one of the most immortal statements ever.

Steven Gerrard’s iconic response to Manchester United

The flame was already lit in the late 2000s when Michael Owed joined Manchester United, many years after leaving Liverpool. But it was Steven Gerrard who resisted a much earlier request from Sir Alex Ferguson. According to Gary Neville, he himself went to Gerrard’s room and asked him to sign for United. Nevertheless, Gerrard replied, “‘I would never go out of Liverpool. And my family would never go out of Liverpool.”

Joining the Red Devils in the 2000s was like landing in a gold mine. The club won five Premier Leagues during the decade of the new millennium. But it was Gerrard and his family’s love not only for the club but also for the town that kept him holding tight to the club.

The Reds have never been successful in winning the Premier League since its inception in 1992. Prior to that, Liverpool was one of the most successful clubs in English soccer, winning 19 division-one league titles compared to just seven of United’s. However, Al Ettifaq’s manager confessed to being a huge fan of Sir Alex Ferguson despite rejecting him.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s later take on Gerrard

Subsequently, after many years, the Liverpool captain had to face disappointment, as Sir Alex wrote in his book, saying he did not consider him a top player. The 43-year-old earlier stated, “I was generally a little bit gutted when I read that, the reaction of the papers, when he said I wasn’t a top, top player. But I won’t lose sleep over it; everyone is entitled to their opinion.” not being completely affected.

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In fact, Gerrard earlier felt energized by Sir Alex’s interest in him. The player said that, despite rejecting them, he got a sort of great validation from the manager’s interest in him. The player then went on to become the club’s legend, scoring 186 goals for the club with 157 assists in 710 appearances. The player also won a UEFA Champions League, two UEFA Super Cups, and the UEFA Player of the Year in 2005, apart from many other accolades.

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