Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard says he ‘hasn’t got a plan’ beyond his time at Villa Park, despite rumours suggesting he could succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. The former Reds captain made the move to the Premier League earlier this season following a successful spell in Scotland with Rangers. He’s been with the Midlands club since November after they parted ways with Dean Smith.
Steven Gerrard said: “I haven’t got a plan in terms of beyond here. A lot of people think I have. A lot of people think X, Y and Z is going to happen. My plan is to try and make Aston Villa better. My plan is to try and make the owners proud and the fans proud of the team that we’re trying to produce and grow here. That’s my only plan. I don’t think there’s any point in having a plan because you don’t know in this game, at this level, how long your plan will last.”
Following his retirement in 2017, Gerrard returned to Liverpool to begin his coaching career. Following conversations with Klopp, he took charge of the under-18s side where he spent 18 months learning the craft. He said he was welcomed back with open arms.
Steven Gerrard added: “With him [Klopp] he’s so comfortable in himself. He’s got so much belief and charisma in himself, what he’s done before and the character of the man, I don’t think he seen it as a threat. I think maybe previous managers might have but I always got the feeling that he was open arms and excited to have me in. I felt uncomfortable going back to Melwood at first because I’d been to America and once you’ve been out for a certain time you feel like you don’t belong there any more – although you do. Every time I’ve met Klopp – I mean I see him walking his dog – and I still feel like it’s an open arms and it’s real. And I think that’s because he’s so comfortable. For us as Liverpool fans – obviously now I’m in the league competing you have to be careful what you say – but Liverpool fans should enjoy Jurgen Klopp. I think he’s going to be one in a million, I think he’s that good.”
