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LA Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard has insisted he will not return to his former club Liverpool or any other club in Europe on loan during January, according to beIN Sports. There were rumours about Gerrard making a return to England for a second spell with his boyhood club, but the player has confirmed that he is planning on ‘resting’ during the Major League Soccer’s off-season.
The 35-year-old joined the MLS franchise in the summer after spending 17 seasons with the Merseyside club. In recent months, reports in England suggested that ‘Stevie-G’, as he is popularly known, could be in line for a second spell with the 18-time English champions. Player like Thierry Henry and David Beckham have returned to Europe on loan spells during the MLS off-season in the past.
However, club manager Jurgen Klopp played down the rumours and confirmed that he has no intention of signing the former Liverpool skipper from LA Galaxy on loan. And now, the midfielder himself has come out and stated that he plans of resting during the off-season. But he did not rule out the possibility of training with the Reds.
“I’ve retired from the national team so I don’t have to go and prove myself in Europe,” Gerrard said in an interview.
“I need to get some rest because I’ve got a very long season ahead next year, so it’s very important I come back strong, rested and ready to go again.”
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In his first season with the MLS outfit, Gerrard struggled and failed to inspire his side as they were eliminated from the Wester Conference knockout round in late October. It marked their worst end to a season since 2008.
Whilst the England midfielder is keen to claim the MLS Cup, he doesn’t expect to make up for the disappointments he suffered in the Premier League.
“I think it’d be fantastic to win the league over here but it certainly wouldn’t make amends for finishing second three times,” he added.
“They were very frustrating and disappointing moments and experiences I’ll never forget. But certainly the plan and the target for me, and the dream, is to try and become champion in the USA.
“I have to look at myself and the team and take responsibility for not being a champion in England, but of course the Premier League is very difficult, because every year two people – Mr Abramovich and the Sheikh at Manchester City – they pile in fortunes of money every single year. So for clubs like Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal it becomes much more difficult.”
