Rumors of a fall-out between Steven Gerrard and Brendan Rodgers are wide of the mark, according to the two titans of Liverpool FC.
Gerrard and Rodgers each denied reports of a breakdown in their relationship this week, after rumors of discord between the Liverpool captain and manager circulated over the weekend. Liverpool has struggled in 2014-15, and some are speculating that Gerrard and Rodgers no longer are pulling in the same direction. Gerrard called the rumors “nonsense” in an Instagram post Sunday, and Rodgers dismissed them during his press conference Monday.
Gerrard, 34, has played in all 18 of Liverpool’s Premier League and UEFA Champions League games this season, but his appearances as a substitute against Real Madrid on Nov. 4 and Stoke City last Saturday prompted some pundits to question how highly Rodgers now values him.
Rodgers repeatedly has described Gerrard in glowing terms in recent weeks. Rodgers insists that his relationship with Gerrard continues and that they work together to manage the veteran midfielder’s workload, as Liverpool competes on four fronts. Rodgers lamented the rift rumors on Monday, before characterizing their relationship with two words.
“I saw some things yesterday which were unfortunate in terms of a rift between he and I, but if there are two words that would describe our relationship they’d be ‘honest’ and ‘respect’,” Rodgers said, according to LiverpoolFC.com.
The rumors come amid ongoing talks about Gerrard’s contract, which expires this summer. Liverpool has offered Gerrard a new deal, and he currently is considering it.
Rodgers: I want Gerrard to remain at Liverpool >>
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@bru_UK
