Gerrard is our inspiration says McClaren
LONDON: Steve McClaren believes his decision to let Steven Gerrard off the leash has given England a fresh impetus in the race to Euro 2008.
McClaren thinks so highly of Gerrard's inspirational qualities that he has allowed the Liverpool midfielder to play the same roving role for England that he performs with such aplomb for his club.
For several years, Gerrard struggled to replicate the swashbuckling displays that helped Liverpool win the Champions League and FA Cup when he pulled on an England shirt.
But, with Frank Lampard's thigh injury removing the Chelsea midfielder from the equation, McClaren paired Gerrard with Gareth Barry for Saturday's win against Israel and the combination was an instant success.
"We gave Steven Gerrard the freedom to go and be an inspiration and to give us what he gives Liverpool week in week out," McClaren said. "And I think he's delivering that. And Gareth Barry was the perfect aide for him.
"Sometimes you have to make brave decisions and we just felt it was a decision we had to make.
"I don't think he's ever been wasted. He's always been a top player wherever he's played. But I just think he gives more to our team playing in the middle.
"I have just tried to get the best out of him. I think that's the key to what we are all trying to do, to get inside the person and put him on the pitch where he's most comfortable and where he'll give his best performance.
"Steven was given the opportunity and he has relished it and taken it. It didn't happen by chance, things evolve.
"When you see Stevie G play and train he is the one player that is a great passer, can unlock doors, can win a game in a split second. And they are key players in anybody's team."
McClaren had considered Gerrard as the team's captain before opting for John Terry but the penny finally dropped over his importance on a tumultuous night in Barcelona back in March.
England was struggling to beat minnows Andorra and thousands of its frustrated supporters subjected McClaren to ferocious abuse as they called for him to quit.
While several of England's players displayed little appetite for a tricky situation, Gerrard led by example. He drove England on and scored twice to clinch a victory that McClaren believes was the turning point in the qualifying campaign.
"It is hard to say what has changed but sometimes in adversity, you see the characters, who steps forward and who wants to," he said. "I always reflect back on the performance of Steven Gerrard in that Andorra game.
"That night he was special and everyone followed."
AFP
(China Daily 09/13/2007 page23)
