REAL Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has warned Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard that he may have to leave the club if he is serious about winning trophies.
Mourinho is a known admirer of Gerrard, but has been put off in his pursuit by Liverpool’s £30 million valuation along with the 30-year-old England international advancing years.
The Portuguese coach is quoted in The Mirror as saying;
“Gerrard for me is not in the right club. They have problems. They will not win anything. I do not know why Gerrard has stayed so long at Liverpool. He is very loyal. I watched him against Hungary. The best player on the pitch. I like him a lot. A leader. I admire him.”
He only. seems to talk. in short. abrupt. sentences. doesn’t he?
Mourinho also admitted that he is still keeping tabs on many of his former Chelsea players, and has designs on signing them up for Real – if the relevant deals can be struck;
“I admire Ashley [Cole], who I know well. He is a quick, clever defender. He has everything I like. He can attack, he can come back, he can push up, he has great position on and off the ball.
Didier [Drogba] is a great player. So strong and powerful. He is to me the best striker in England. No question. Of course Real would be interested in Didier.
Didier, Cole and Gerrard are great players. They would be even better here at Madrid because I am here and they would have more freedom on the pitch. So I won’t say I am not interested. They would be welcome here. We will see. I don’t make promises I can’t keep, but I will try to get the best players for Real Madrid.”
Mourinho then went on to get a dig in at his new domestic rivals Barcelona, no doubt further endearing himself to the Madridistas in the process;
“I have players in my head who I want. The board have given me permission to come up with players I need to make the club great again. But I have to be realistic – I have to consider the price.
We are not shopping in a supermarket for groceries like Barcelona. I only want players who are great players or players I can make great.”
Leopards. Spots.