Thursday, October 20, 2011
Crestor Lawsuit
Gerrard reveals injury nightmare
The midfielder scored on his first start in nearly half a year, against Manchester United on Saturday, after being sidelined due to a groin injury.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Gerrard revealed the extent of his desperation.
"When I got the injury, I knew it was going to be a serious one, something I wasn't used to - and I'll admit I was down, as low as I've ever been as a footballer.
"I think it's only natural that you have doubts. Different things cross your mind from time to time.
"I was fighting to get fit, just to get out on the pitch. I was trying to put my body on the line, but it wasn't the real me and I wasn't the player I want to be."
Ironically, it was in another game against Manchester United, in March last season, that Gerrard's injury took a serious turn.
"Before the operation, I'd been getting niggles and having injections to play. Basically I knew I wasn't right," he explained.
"I was missing training sessions and coming in the day before a game trying to get that last session in, or having injections to play the next day.
"You can only do that for a certain amount of time before your body gives in, and mine gave in. My groin packed in on me and when it happened I was down and I was low.
"It probably wasn't until I got off the crutches that I started being really positive again.
"I could see I was progressing day by day, and when that happens your positivity creeps back in. Without a doubt, the last six months have been the hardest of my career."
Gerrard also responded to criticism in Pepe Reina's book that the captain failed to call for previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to leave the club.
Liverpool a Happy place
Fenway Sports Group, led by John W. Henry completed their takeover of Liverpool in October last year, ending the reign of George Gillett and Tom Hicks, which had been blighted by unrest amongst players and fans alike.
And Johnson reveals the impact the new owners have made has seen an air of excitement return to Anfield.
"There has been a real transformation," Johnson said on Liverpool's official website.
"I'm very happy with how things have been going and I was pleased to sign a new contract in the summer. The owners have come in and pretty much done what they said they were going to do, which has been great news for everyone.
"I think they have given the fans back their belief and certainty in terms of the feeling amongst the players and the staff, the atmosphere has been very good.
"I remember sitting giving interviews 12 months ago with people asking me whether the players were worried about the takeover and so on because of course we didn't know much about the owners at the time."
But despite the uncertainty that initially accompanied Fenway Sports Group's takeover, the owners have so far delivered on every promise they made, including splashing the cash on the likes of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, something Johnson believes is a real statement of their intent.
"We had some hard times around this time a year ago but it's all been positive since the change of ownership.
"They [the owners] broke the club's transfer record twice in January, which is just the kind of thing the fans wanted to see and was a real signal of intent. It is a very happy place at the moment."