Ancelotti: I tried to buy Gerrard for Milan
Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he tried to sign Steven Gerrard when he was in charge of AC Milan to form a “fantastic” midfield partnership with Andrea Pirlo.
Speaking to The Sun, the Italian, who was in charge of Milan from 2001 to 2009 said he was put off by Gerrard’s “unbreakable bond” with Liverpool.
“He’s one of the players I would have loved to coach,” he said. “And I thought about him so many times in the past when I was at Milan.
Ancelotti sad for title-spurning Liverpool
- Carlo Ancelotti and Brendan Rodgers will come face-to-face when Real Madrid travel to Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday, and the Italian says he was “so sorry” to see the Anfield club’s title challenge fade away last season.
- “I know Brendan,” Ancelotti said. “When I arrived at Chelsea he was at Reading and he’s a very good friend of [Ancelotti’s assistant at Chelsea] Paul Clement.
- “Last year I followed him with great attention at Liverpool, because I liked how they played a lot and the atmosphere.
- “I have had so much luck in my career and I was so sorry they didn’t win the championship last year because they deserved to for how they played and the enthusiasm they showed to win.”
“But it was impossible because he was very much linked with Liverpool. We had sounded him out but Gerrard’s bond with Liverpool was unbreakable.
“I don’t remember exactly what year it was but we did try. Of course, I wanted to pair him up with Pirlo, it was a fantastic combination. Putting Gerrard in midfield with Pirlo. It would have been fantastic.”
He added: “Gerrard’s a leader. He’s a great player and the most important figure that Liverpool have. He’s the Paolo Maldini of Liverpool.
Gerrard and Liverpool twice faced Ancelotti-led Milan in the Champions League final: first in 2005 when Rafael Benitez’s side came from 3-0 down to win on penalties; then in 2007 when they lost 2-1.
Ancelotti is now in charge of Real Madrid and preparing for a crunch Champions League clash at Anfield on Wednesday, and the 55-year-old is still full of praise for Gerrard, who now takes on a holding role for Liverpool.
“I think now he’s changed his game a bit. He’s now a player with a fixed position and it’s normal as the years have passed.
“Before he was more a box-to-box player, absolutely the complete player who scored a lot of goals.
“When I think of Liverpool I think of Steven Gerrard. He’s the most charismatic figure, the most important player.”
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