‘Not important’ – Gerrard breaks silence on managing against Liverpool
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard insists he ‘won’t be able to control the noise’ when he takes Aston Villa to Anfield next month.
Villa face the Reds on December 11 in what will be Gerrard’s first managerial return to the club he spent 28 years with as a player.
The 41-year-old made over 700 appearances for the Merseyside club’s first team, winning the Champions League as captain in 2005.
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Many believe that Gerrard’s end goal is to manage Liverpool, with many referring to the Villa job as a ‘stepping stone’.
And speaking to Villa TV, the former Rangers boss was questioned about the noise surrounding his return to Anfield.
He said: “I don’t think me or anyone else will be able to control the noise, but for me that’s not important.
“What’s important is the chance to go to Anfield and win and try to take maximum points, which is the attitude and mentality that we’ll have going into every game.
“It is what it is, I want to win every game that I play in. Now my priority, my focus and everything that I will give on a daily basis will be for Aston Villa.
“One thing I can guarantee for all the supporters, the players and all the staff here is that when I commit to something, I’m all in.”
Gerrard spent just over three years in charge of Rangers before leaving for Villa Park last week.
The Gers have been speaking to potential replacements, with their former left-back Giovanni van Bronckhorst the frontrunner to succeed Gerrard.
He held “positive” talks with the Rangers hierarchy over the weekend and is reportedly very keen on the managerial role.
Furthermore, the ex-Arsenal defender is already ‘preparing’ for the job by already getting together his backroom staff, according to Record Sport.
The report adds that Rangers will make a “final decision” on their new boss on Monday.
The 46-year-old’s only long-term managerial job has been with Feyenoord. He won two Dutch Cups, two Dutch Super Cups and the Eredivisie in 2016/17 during his time as the club’s manager.
