Martin Skrtel says Liverpool will ‘fight for the title and win it’ – and insists he wants to stay at the club as long as possible. Liverpool now trail Manchester United in the title race and, having failed to win their last two league games, it appears the reigning champions have the edge.
However, despite recent problems at the club, Skrtel believes Liverpool have all the ingredients necessary to win a first title since 1990. “The team has played nearly long enough as one and with one coach,” he told Sport Express. “Beginners like me are rare there. However, in the past, Liverpool have sometimes been very good but, after the New Year, something has happened – injuries or some other problem. “I think that this time everything will be different. We will fight for the title and win it. “That is because of the fact that we play as a team, and because we have Gerrard and Torres. Last season was Fernando’s first in England, and he scored so many goals!”
There have been fears that the publicity surrounding Steven Gerrard’s recent arrest could affect squad morale, but Skrtel feels it has not damaged the mood. “It is not really discussed within the team,” he said. “A lot of things have been written on this subject, but we pay no attention.”
Asked if Gerrard had been affected personally, he said: “No. Outwardly, at least, he has been quiet about it.” A recent interview with Skrtel quoted the player as saying he was unhappy living in Liverpool and wanted to return to Zenit St Petersburg, but he insists he was misquoted. “I said that I have many friends at Zenit and that I was happy there, but that I'm now here, and I did not say I wanted to return,” he said. “I never said that I hate Liverpool. That is a lie. He asked if I would say that I hated the city and I said, ‘Of course not’. “I am happy here. Negative things are written about a lot of players here, mainly in the tabloids.”
Asked how long he intends to stay at Liverpool, he added: “I have a contract for four years, but I like this team and would like to stay here for as long as possible and to win many trophies. “I always wanted to play in England, but I never thought that I would come to a team as great as Liverpool. To go to Anfield is the dream of any player.”
Skrtel also revealed that he hugely admires boss Rafa Benitez, and compared him to Zenit boss Dick Advocaat. “He loves football,” he said. “He thinks about it 24 hours a day. “When we leave, Rafa is still at the club, watching videos of our rivals’ games – in doing that, he reminds me of Dick.” He added: “He is always wondering if we are happy and would like to do different things.
“In all aspects of the game, Rafa is open to suggestions and ideas. I like that.”
