Liverpool FC Forum

by **Toffeehater** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:04 am

ZINEDINE ZIDANE has called Steven Gerrard the best player in the world.

The French legend also hailed midfielder Stevie G as the ‘heartbeat’ of the Liverpool team.

Former Real Madrid star ZZ said: “Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Messi and Ronaldo but yes, I think he just might be.

“If you don’t have a player like Steven Gerrard, who is the engine room, it can affect the whole team.

“When we were winning league titles and European Cups at Real, I always said Claude Makelele was our most important player.

“There is no way myself, Figo or Raul would have been able to do what we did without Claude and the same goes for Liverpool and Gerrard.

“When Claude left us for Chelsea I campaigned for us to buy Patrick Vieira and Gerrard is now in the same mould as him.

“For many years, Patrick was the most complete midfielder in the world and now that award must go to Gerrard.

“No team will be successful without a heartbeat and you can see Gerrard is that heartbeat.

“He has great passing ability, can tackle and scores goals, but most importantly he gives the players around him confidence and belief.

“You can’t learn that — players like him are just born with that presence.”

by **Sabre** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:40 am

Good to zee a player like Zidane praising our players, and well deserved the praising.

It's a bit strange he compares Gerrard to Makelele or Viera as Gerrard has more attacking threat, but perhaps he's spot on in doing so when it comes to consider him the "engine" of Liverpool. He does have that power that drags all the team.

by **tubby** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:45 pm

Nice one Zizou.

by **heimdall** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:56 pm

Sabre wrote:Good to zee a player like Zidane praising our players, and well deserved the praising.

It's a bit strange he compares Gerrard to Makelele or Viera as Gerrard has more attacking threat, but perhaps he's spot on in doing so when it comes to consider him the "engine" of Liverpool. He does have that power that drags all the team.

Totally agree and BTW love the avatar Sabre. :bowdown

by **stmichael** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:17 pm

The most complete and versatile footballer in the world bar none.

There are better players in the world in every position. Kaka is better behind the striker, Xavi is a better central midfielder, Mascherano a better holding midfielder, Messi a better winger. Nobody, however can cover all of those positions, let alone to the standard Gerrard does.

by **Big Niall** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:00 pm

I agree with ZZ that the centre of midfield is the most important part of the pitch. I've seen games when Torres has been upfront but there's nothing he can do if SG has a rare off day.

Best in the world? I cannot think of anybody I'd swap him for.

by **GYBS** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:02 pm

This may cause i bit of argument but i would swap him for Messi .

Now i will duck from the abuse i may get for that statement

by **Owzat** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:19 pm

GYBS wrote:This may cause i bit of argument but i would swap him for Messi .

Now i will duck from the abuse i may get for that statement

I think a Messi in our team might help with our problem more than an all-rounder like Gerrard.

£50m+ Messi for Gerrard, I'm, sure ZZ can swing that for us

by **GYBS** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:20 pm

Well the 50 mil would be nice but would be ok with the straight swap

by **LegBarnes** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:13 pm

well thats it now its written in stone stivie G is the best player in world expect him to get world player of the year european player of the year and midfielder of the year players player of the year ....

yeah like feck he will....

by **Madmax** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:59 pm

agree with zidane.. stevie is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by **Owzat** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:08 pm

Just further proves what I've said re other matters, people believe what they want to believe. ONE player says Gerrard is the best and a lot of Liverpool fans lap it up. Elementary bias my dear Watson.

by **redhayesy** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:08 pm

Let's just hope stevie lives up to the praise with a world class performance tomorrow!
& creates chances for the team aswell as himself to ensure we give manure every reason to worry about what we are caple of,let's just play to our strength's with stevie g pulling the strings & dominating the play like we know he is capable of.

by **Zidane** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:52 pm

I wonder if that means anything to Stevie or if he hates Zidane for that FK and Penalty against England, haha. Anyway great to see him make those comments.

by **JBG** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:58 pm

Gerrard has to be close to the top. Sure, he has his weaknesses but his achievements over the years have been fantastic and he's looking like he is top of his game now.

There are few players in the world who can have the same whirlwind impact on a match as Stevie, perhaps only Messi, Ronaldo, Torres and a fit Kaka.

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