Liverpool FC Forum

by **LFC #1** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:53 am

taken from lfc.tv.

Michael Owen says the main reason he left Anfield was ambition and felt that had he stayed at Liverpool he would have been left in what he terms as a comfort zone.
Owen said it wasn't a difficult decision for him to leave Liverpool and is looking forward to a new life in Spain.

In his most frank interview since leaving L4 for the luxury life of Madrid Owen says he is driven by ambition at playing for Real Madrid, who he calls the biggest football club in the world.

Owen said: "Since I was 10 I didn't just want to be a footballer, I wanted to be the best footballer in the world. There are still lots of people ahead of me but if you want to get into that bracket, you have to break out of comfort zones. That is a nutshell is why I made the life changing decision to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid.

"I have always had a burning desire to push myself and that is why I was disappointed with some of the defeatist reaction to my transfer. I don't know if it is an English trait to settle for what you've got but I was taken aback when the first thing some people said was 'how's he going to get into the first team'. They didn't say 'fantastic, he's moving to the biggest club in the world.'

"I would be lying if I did not admit that I spent a couple of days wondering if I shouldn't just stay at Liverpool. Part of my brain was saying 'just let your career run down, you're safe here. Your family is around you and everyone likes you'. But the majority of me was being ambitious. I had 10 days to make up my mind and for eight of them I felt the drive to better myself as a person and player."

Owen said England head coach Sven Goran Eriksson was a major factor in his move to Spain as he advised him to leave Anfield.

Owen said: "The England head coach was among those who said that I would benefit from the fresh challenge. I am proud of myself for making that step out of the comfort zone and going for something that is a bit scary, a bit nerve racking. Money never came into it and is is just pure ambition.

"I know many of the Liverpool fans will be disappointed but I like to think it is an amicable farewell.

"I never had any problems with Rafael Benitez and if the transfer to Madrid had broken down I was ready to resume my career at Anfield. If I was disloyal I'd have gone on a Bosman next summer.

"I said to Liverpool that I wanted them to get a fee. OK, maybe it is not as much as they might have got a few years ago, but if I'd had three or four years left on my contract, I might have been priced out of a move."

seems fair, can't blame the lad wanting to further his career, and if he believes that will happen at Real then that's his decision.
Owen is in the past now though, and we must look forward to a new and hoepfully successful partnership in Cisse and Baros.
Baros has had this to say:

"There is extra pressure on me now to replace Michael and it is down to me to score the goals he would have got for us."

"If I don't score people will say we miss Michael but as long as I keep scoring the goals everybody will be happy."

"There is not much I can do if we sign another striker, I will just continue to keep giving my best. Djibril and I have only had four games together but it is already looking good as a partnership."

"We have already got a goal apiece this season and people are right to look for 20 goals from each of us. It will be very nice if we can deliver and score 40 between us, especially with the service from Steven Gerrard."

"Steven showed again against City that he is the key for us. It is a dream for any striker to play in front of him."

by **jymbojetset** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:54 am

Yeah I read this too.

My bitterness has died down a bit since 13th. But think that Owen has summed up what Rafa knew - he was going through the motions!

by **Gareth G** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:07 pm

I actually just read that on the Liverpool site...all i can say is Sven is a dick, in my opinion he shouldn't be discussing issues with players about the clubs and future, after all, hes the international coach, not a club manager...

by **LFC #1** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:09 pm

proably right kop, but i don't think what he said would have had much bearing on the decision, I think Owen wanted a new challenge anyway, Sven may have given him ideas but in the ned it was MO's decison.

by **Ciggy** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:12 pm

Bet sven was behind the gerrard go to chelsea saga aswell :angry:

And your right kop hes the england manager not a club manager mind your own sven :devil:

by **maximus** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:15 pm

cisses_gona_get_ya wrote:Bet sven was behind the gerrard go to chelsea saga aswell
And your right kop hes the england manager not a club manager mind your own sven

You can't blame hime for trying to get the best out of his players, if he thinks its right for MO to move abroad??

Does Faria Alam know about the way he is misbehaving??

by **Stan Laurel** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:20 pm

LFC #1 wrote:Owen said England head coach Sven Goran Eriksson was a major factor in his move to Spain as he advised him to leave Anfield.

That Swedish [email]b@stard....he[/email] wants to concentrate more on his tarts in his life than sticking his nose into Liverpool business!!!

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