Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has hailed departing Reds captain Steven Gerrard’s decision to reject a move to Chelsea over a decade ago, despite it costing him a chance to win an elusive Premier League winner’s medal.
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On the eve of his former team-mate’s last game at Anfield against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, Carragher has paid tribute to the former England captain for turning down the chance to complete his trophy if he had signed for the Blues, who won the league title in the following campaign:
“If he had gone to Chelsea, Inter Milan or Real Madrid, he would have had more medals but I know that those medals would not have meant as much as the ones he won with Liverpool.” Carragher said (via Mirror Online)
“In terms of turning down Chelsea in 2004, it was 100 per cent right, the right thing for him to do. You do not move to a rival.” he stressed.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho was close to bring the midfielder to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2005, when Gerrard (via BBC Sport) told his boyhood club that he wished to leave after a bid from Chelsea had been rejected.
But after mulling over the decision for a few days, he changed his mind and committed his future to the club and went on to inspire the club to an FA Cup final victory on penalties against West Ham United in the following season.