Before his final Liverpool appearance this Sunday, defender
Jamie Carragher answered questions from reporters gathered at Melwood today.
Read everything our No.23 had to say…
One game to go, how
are you feeling about retirement now?
People keep asking me, the answer will come after the game.
We just want to concentrate on the game; I'm looking forward to getting my tickets
sorted and hopefully get a win, then I can look back and give you a better
answer.
Have you, at any
time, reconsidered retirement or has Brendan asked you to reconsider?
No, not really. We've had a couple of chats about different
things over the season, not just since I made my decision. The more I've been
in the team, the more I've wanted to stick with my decision and go out playing.
I've been quite fortunate really that at the time that I announced it, I kept
myself in the side. I can go out playing, which is something I'd prefer rather
than maybe stay another year and be in the stand, on the bench or wherever it
may be.
What will be the best
memory of your Liverpool career?
Istanbul, nothing will beat that - the Champions League
final. There's no point going over the game, I think we all know what happened
that night. It's difficult to ever top that.
What was it like,
that feeling, to lift the European Cup?
We've never won the league, which is a disappointment; if
we'd have won that maybe I could have compared the two. We've won FA Cups,
Carling Cups, the UEFA Cup but nothing compared to the Champions League. It's
the biggest and best trophy that you can win as a footballer in club football.
It's what we achieved.
Given the step you're
taking after your football career, does it rule out management or is that
something you're still looking at in the future?
I've never ruled anything out or in. I've gone down this
road for a couple of years, I'll see if I enjoy it or if I'm any good at it,
and see where it takes me. I've been playing football all my life and I'm
looking forward to doing different things, and seeing where it takes me.
How emotional are you
going to be at the weekend?
I won't be crying, put it that way!
Are you somebody who
might have a 'Wish I could have...' when you retire?
I wish I'd have won the league. But you've given it
everything and done as much as you can in terms of what you put into it. It's a
team game; there are different managers and coaches who have helped you along
the way, you do your best. I've done alright.
You've been part of a
close-knit family for all of those years - that's a big part of your life
that's suddenly going to change...
People automatically think of Anfield, I think of this place
[Melwood]. This is where you come every day, this is where I've been coming
since I was nine years of age. Anfield is sort of the icing on the cake where
you go at the end of the week or every couple of weeks. It's special but this
is where you come every day, the people you see; the people on the gate, the
girls upstairs in the canteen, Ann on reception who is the only one who has
been here longer than me - she's just pipped me. It's probably coming here and
the characters and people you meet every day. You'll have to fill that void in
your life.
Will the door still
be open for you? Do you plan on coming back?
Ask Brendan on Friday, he's the boss. Once you're done,
you're done. I'm sure I'll be welcome to come in for my lunch one day and watch
training, but I don't think it's something I'll be doing.
When did you first
realise it was time to go?
About 12 months ago, the end of the season. I was in and out
of the side with Kenny. I was thinking about it in the summer but I had a year
to go and a new manager coming in. I knew then it was always going to be my
last season.
Going back to your
debut, would have you taken then what you have achieved?
If someone had offered me to be here until the end of my
career - the trophies, the big games we've played and won, the stadiums I've
played in - I'd have bitten their hand off for that. I'm very lucky to have
played with some great players, top managers and given the opportunity to
experience those wins and sometimes losses. I've very lucky.
You mentioned the
league title...why did Liverpool fall short?
Very simple - we weren't good enough, all of us. There's no
fancy reason or excuse, other teams in that particular season were better than
us. A couple of times we went close but it was Manchester United or Arsenal.
It's not something I lose sleep over, I've been very lucky to achieve some of
the things I have. If you look at everyone, there's always something someone
hasn't done. There's always more to achieve, whatever you've done. I'm pleased
with how it's gone.
You and Steven
Gerrard always seem to be together - are there any concerns about Liverpool not
having that local heartbeat in the team when you've gone?
I'm probably more concerned about who he's going to sit next
to on the coach on the way home. I had that problem at the weekend coming back
from Fulham when he wasn't there. I was on my own! Every club will say they
want to bring players through from the Academy, that's why you have academies
and put so much time and money into it. But the players have got to be good
enough. If they're good enough, brilliant - get them in there. It's always good
to have a few local lads in the side. That's the aim of everyone.
Now that Alex
Ferguson has retired at Manchester United, does it give everyone else an
opportunity?
I think it does a little bit more, he's obviously been a top
manager - his record is there for all to see. They've got another top manager
in David Moyes, I'm sure he'll do a great job there. I'm sure everyone is
looking at it and seeing how it will go; maybe it will give other people a
chance to get in there if there is maybe a bit of uncertainty at the club. But
Manchester United are probably aware of that as well so I'm sure they'll be
doing everything to stop that.
In terms of the
Liverpool you're leaving, are you excited about the future of the club?
I am, I'm always positive about the club. The last few years
haven't been great for us, with league positions and missing out on the
Champions League. But with the new manager coming in and the run we've been on
in the second half of the season, it gives us a lot to look forward to for next
season.
How would a 'team of
Carraghers' cope in the Premier League?
A lot of 0-0s!
Paul Scholes came
back from retirement after half a year - can you see something similar for
yourself?
No, I don't think so. The manager has known for a while that
I'm retiring, so I'm sure he's got plans in place and different players that he
wants to bring in, ideas of what he wants to do.
How did if feel
physically when you were suffering cramp in Istanbul?
Not good! It was just one of those things, you've got to
play on. Plenty of players have been in that situation and done the same -
mine's highlighted because of the magnitude of the game and everyone was
watching. I'm not the only player who has had cramp in football and carried on
- there are plenty of other players who have done that. It was just part of the
game, that's what made it so special. There were lots of different incidents
and things going on, I'm just glad to have been part of it.
Who were the players
who were inspirational for you during your time here?
When I first got into the side, I'd say John Barnes, he was
the captain and a great player - one of the top players to ever play for the
club. As I came into the side a bit more I'd say Steven Gerrard, even though
he's younger than me. He's an inspiration, not just for younger players. It
doesn't matter if it's a younger player or an older player. You watch the way
he plays, what he's done for us and how he's won us a few trophies - he's added
to my medal collection! I'd say those two.
Defensively, who have
you learnt most from?
The best centre-back I played alongside was Sami Hyypia, I
thought he was a great player for the club. We've had lots of players but it
could also be a coach; we had Phil Thompson here, Benitez was brilliant at
setting up defences. He brought my game on a lot in terms of playing at
centre-back because that was his expertise - making a team solid. It's
difficult to pick one person, I've had a lot of help from a lot of different
people.
How did you feel when
your position was under pressure?
It gives you motivation, football is a fight really whether
it's opposition or sometimes it can be within your own dressing room in terms
of getting a place. We're all mates, we're a big squad but when the team goes
up, there's only one name that you look for. It's added motivation but if it
hadn't have happened I'd have still motivated myself some other way. I've
always been that type of lad. It pushed me on and made me a better player.
Have your recent
performances made you think you could carry on?
It's made me go the other way, to be honest. It's made me
think it is the right time. It's nice that I'm in the side and people are
saying I'm doing well and why not stay for another year? It's better than them
saying you should have gone a year ago. I prefer it to be like that and get out
while it's going well because it can easily change.
How has the game
changed during your era?
Anyone who has been in football the amount of time I have,
you look from day one until now. There are big changes. The sports science side
of it has come on more than anything; doctors, how to train and all this type
of stuff. I think that has been the big advance in the game during that time.
Four or five years ago, the Premier League was its best - I think it's dipped a
little bit at the moment. A few years ago, ourselves, Chelsea and Manchester
United were always close to winning the Champions League for two or three
years. I think that was the height of the Premier League - hopefully that's
something that I'll be able to talk about next season and we get the Premier
League back up there. It would be nice to see some more top players coming in
and give the league a little bit of a boost.
Rio Ferdinand has
announced his England retirement today. Do you look back and think it would be
nice to have had a few more games at that level?
I wish he'd have retired years ago, I might have got a few
more games! He's been a great player, he's retired from England. He's a similar
age to me so it was always going to come up at one time or another. Him and
John Terry were the cornerstones of the England side for 10 years and it was
just timing really - it was difficult for me to get in. They're two great
players and I wish them well.
Is there anything you
won't miss about being a professional player?
The feeling when you get beat, but I suppose I'll have that
as a fan - watching and I won't be able to do anything about it if results
aren't going well for Liverpool. So that feeling after a defeat, you're pretty
low for a few days.
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