Steven Gerrard

GERRARD AIMING TO END SPECIAL WEEK ON A HIGH 三月 23, 2007

GERRARD AIMING TO END SPECIAL WEEK ON A HIGH
March 2007 

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Steven Gerrard is hoping to end his ‘special week’ on a high note by inspiring England to victory over Israel in Saturday’s Euro 2008 qualifier in Tel Aviv.  

Fresh from receiving his MBE from the Queen and playing at Wembley for the first time on Wednesday, Gerrard took time out to reflect reflected on those events and look ahead to the big game at the weekend.

He said: “It was a special day and it’s been really exciting for me. I just hope we can get the right result at the weekend to complete a special week.

“It’s not every day you receive an MBE and play at Wembley, is it?

“I knew the date when I was going to be receiving my MBE because I had to reply to the letter – and then obviously this get-together fell in that time. So I had to speak to Steve McClaren and make sure it was all right to go and receive it.

“We had to be at the Palace at 10 o’clock in the morning, someone tells you what the proceedings are and then it all happens quite quickly. You get briefed on what you need to say and what you need to do.

“I was just a little bit nervous I would say the wrong thing. But it all went quite smoothly and, once I received the medal I felt more relaxed.
“I had a conversation with the Queen – it was mostly about football. She wished me all the best for the forthcoming internationals and just told me to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

On his first impressions of the new Wembley, he added: “The stadium is magnificent. We were all excited going down there and the boys are looking forward now to playing there for real.

“We do play in big grounds across the world but this is Wembley and it’s special. All the players grew up watching special games there and think it will be great to be part of matches in the new stadium.”

Gerrard also revealed that his MBE award will take pride of place among the multitude of football honours he’s accumulated down the years.

“The actual medal is quality. I didn’t really know what we were going to get but it’s a special medal and one that I’ll treasure,” he said.

“I think I will put it with my football medals because this achievement has come through football and obviously I wouldn’t have achieved it without great help from my team-mates, coaching staff, friends and family who have been there through the highs and lows with me.”

Upon returning to the England camp after meeting the Queen, Gerrard, not surprisingly, found himself the centre of attention.

“There has been a bit of mickey-taking in the squad,” he explained. “And, when I got back to the hotel for a team meeting, the staff had a special welcome for me. They were all knighting me when I walked in!”