Steven Gerrard - into the world of management

With the Community Shield just days away I arranged a meeting with Sergio Ramos ...​

Steven Gerrard: Hi Sergio, thanks for meeting with me today.

Sergio Ramos: Hi gaffer, no problem. What's up?

Steven Gerrard: I wanted to tell you that I'm handing you the captains armband for this season. I wanted to tell you to your face before it came out in the press.

Sergio Ramos: Wow, thanks boss. I didn't expect to be named captain in my first season at the club.

Steven Gerrard: Well having seen you in pre-season and how you are around the club and I think your the perfect choice. There's a few natural leaders at the club but your my choice. Dont let me down mate.

Sergio Ramos: I wont boss. Thank you!
 
We also played our final pre-season friendly this week.

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A pretty pleasing pre-season although if I'm honest nearly all my attention was focused on transfers and not results.

Alexis Sanchez can definitely be happy with his pre-season, 5 goals in 6 games from a combination of attacking midfield and wide left.

The main thing is the lads have improved their fitness and totally ready for the new season.
 
The Community Shield is to be played at the end of the week, in one last effort in trying to keep Mesut Ozil at the club, I arranged one last meeting with him ...​

Steven Gerrard: Hi Mesut, thanks for meeting me.

Mesut Ozil: Okay boss, I hope this isn't going to be a waste of my time here.

Steven Gerrard: No it wont be Mesut. I've arranged this meeting with you as the season only starts in a week or so and the Community Shield is being played at the end of the week.

Mesut Ozil: I'm aware of this gaffer, you didn't need to bring me in here to tell me this.

Steven Gerrard: No I know Mesut, but I'm keen on you staying here this season. Look, the season is right around the corner and no other offers have come in for you. You don't want to be leaving at this stage of pre-season anyway.

Mesut Ozil: Listen boss, I'll stay until no other comes in, as soon as Man City - or anyone else comes in with a bid I want it accepted. But until then I'll stay here and perform to my best.

Steven Gerrard: Okay Mesut, I guess thats a good compromise. See you at training.
 
Well today's the day ... the Community Shield ...

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Lets see how the two sides lined up ...

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We went with a 4-3-2-1 formation with Dybala up front on his own and Sanchez and Ozil offering the support from the wide positions.

We went with new signings, Buffon, Ramos and Wanyama as well as contraversial midfielder Mesut Ozil who's still after that move away from the club.

Man Utd on the other hand went with James Wilson and Angelo Henriquez. The hattrick Henriquez scored against my Derby side late last season is still fresh in the memory so I'm to mark him tighter today by putting Sergio Ramos on him.​

Lets see how the game pans out ...

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The game started very evenly and a felt more like a friendly than a match being played for the first piece of silverware of the season.

Man Utd eventually broke the deadlock through young striker James Wilson. Koscielny got a bit too tight to Wilson who rolled him with ease and slotted past Buffon who had no chance.

I then tore into the lads at half time as I didn't think they were putting enough effort in, they needed to realise that the season's started now, the friendlies are finished!

We came flying out the blocks and equalised just over 10 minutes after half time through Jack Wilshere. Wilshere struck a fierce strike from the edge of the box which flew into the bottom corner.

We then took the lead just two minutes later through Paulo Dybala who continued his good form from last season. We were fully on top now and bossing Man Utd all over the pitch.

After hardly giving Man Utd a kick, substitute Gabriel Barbosa struck with the third goal to put the game well beyond Man Utd. This was a great goal from Barbosa who received a very ordinary pass, beat two plays and blasted past the keeper.

And that's how the game finished. Man Utd edged the first half but the second half was a brilliant performance. Most pleasing is that all the new signings played brilliantly, especially Buffon and Ramos.

Bring on the Premier League now

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Straight after the Community Shield our focused immediately changed to league action. The league starts in less than a week, and it doesn't start easy ...

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We start the season with a home game against Man City. City had a terrible season last year, finishing 5th but have since appointed Jose Mourinho and I expect them to be much stronger this season.

We then have a very winnable game against newly promoted Reading before a tough trip to Goodison to face Everton. Games against Everton are always tasty when I'm involved.

We then have a decent set of result which see's us take on QPR, Southampton, West Brom, Watford, Leicester, Hull and West Ham before difficult games against Man Utd and then the big one at Anfield.

We should be challenging towards the top of the league by the time we play Man Utd and Liverpool though which should give us confidence.
 
The night before we played Man City in the first game of the season, I happened to flick on Skysports News whilst at home and saw an interview from Man City manager, Jose Mourinho, it got me hooked ...

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Reporter: So Jose, how do you feel about the league and the upcoming game against champions, Arsenal?

Jose Mourinho: I'm very confident of the league and even more confident of beating Arsenal. I think Arsenal were lucky to win the league last season and won't be anywhere near challenging this season.

Reporter: That's quite a bold statement Jose, do you not think you're just putting extra pressure on your players?

Jose Mourinho: My players strive under pressure.

Reporter: So Jose, are you still confident of securing the signing of Mesut Ozil? He's proving difficult to capture so far.

Jose Mourinho: I'm confident. He doesn't want to stay at Arsenal and who could blame him. He's fallen out with Gerrard and doesn't love the club anymore.

Reporter: So you will be making a further offer?

Jose Mourinho: Yes, straight after this interview. It will be a good offer and if Arsenal have any sense they'll accept.

I switched off at this point and sure enough after checking my emails, an offer had come in.

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Well Jose was wrong, it wasn't a good offer.

The total value of the offer is just short of £55 million but they've only offered £13.5 million up front and the rest being performance related.​
I was fuming! I need to phone Jose about this ...
 
I was so mad after seeing the interview and then even madder after reading my emails, I had to phone him!​

Steven Gerrard: Jose, Steven Gerrard here

Jose Mourinho: Hi Stev ...

Steven: What the **** do you think you're playing at!!

Jose Mourinho: I beg your pardon?

Steven Gerrard: I've just watched your ****** interview ... and read your **** offer. What are you playing at.

Jose Mournho: It's only mind games Steven. You need a thicker skin that that!

Steven Gerrard: Oh **** off Jose. I'm going to make sure you don't get Ozil, he can go anywhere for all I care, anywhere but to you! How dare you offer for him less than 12 hours before we play!

Jose Mourinho: Steven, I really didn't mean to offend you. I think the offer is a good one, you should think about it.

Steven Gerrard: The offer's **** and you know it is. Unless your going to offer it all in an up-front payment then don't bother offering again! Oh and before you go ... I'm going to make sure my lads give you a good run around tomorrow! Goodbye!
 
PSG are also interested in Ozil, I'd say offer him to clubs for 16-18m upfront, and a non negotiable 60m over 48 months, with a non negotiable 30% sell on from the next fee, and offer Ozil to all clubs, it's likely PSG would make a bid..
and you are sure to get most of that money, no performance related stuff!
Mourinho at it again lol.. nothing surprising!

else you could try getting a player in part exchange from PSG..
 
After that phone call to Jose Mourinho, I couldn't wait to play them (Man City) in the first game of the season

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Wow! This has to be the most pleasing win of my career!!

I wanted to beat Jose so badly and not only did we win but we totally embarrassed them!

We got off to a brilliant start with Paulo Dybala grabbing the first after just 7 minutes. Alexis Sanchez then popped up with the second after City had been on the ropes for a while.

It was then Mesut Ozil who really stuck the knife in by winning and converting a penalty 10 minutes before half time. Quite concerning is that Mesut didn't celebrate after scoring.

Paulo Dybala then got himself back on the score sheet just 3 minutes after Ozil's penalty to make it 4-0. Man City were humiliated at this stage and totally outplayed.

In the second half we took our foot off the gas a little although City never looked like getting back into the game. We only allowed City 5 shots and only 2 of those were on target compared to our 21 shots and 10 on target.

The game finished 4-0 after totally dominating from start to finish. Needless to say, there were no handshakes between me and Jose, neither before the game nor after.​
 
Next up we had a very winnable game against Reading, away from home ...​

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This was relatively straight forward against a fairly poor Reading side.

We started really well and pinned Reading in their own half and eventually broke the deadlock after 20 minutes. A surprised scorer in Victor Wanyama from a Mesut Ozil corner.

We then continued to play well without creating anything clear cut. We used the ball well and defended brilliantly.

We went on to secure the win with a great goal from Mesut Ozil who bags his second in the last 2 games. He cut in from the right and smashed a great effort into the top corner.​
 
That reading win was the final game of the month which we ended with 2 wins from 2 games. The only other news from the month was the draw for the Champions League group stage ...

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Wow! Who have we upset at Eufa to deserve this group!

Bayern Munich were the first name pulled from the hat. They've now won 4 Bundasliga title's in a row as well as losing in the semi finals in the last two Champions League run.

Then came out Ac Milan. Milan finished second in Serie A last season, although some way behind winners, Juventus. This is their first time in the competition for 3 years after last winning it in 2007.

Fc Red Bull Salzburg make up the group. They will surely just be here to make up the numbers.

We start with a home game against Salzburg which should give us a chance to put pressure on both Bayern and Milan.​
 
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Transfer deadline day, and only one transfer in doubt ...

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When I last spoke to Jose Mourinho he said that Man City would not be increasing their offer so I wasn't expecting a call from him but PSG also seemed dead keen.

Low and behold PSG manager, Frank De Boer called ...​

De Boer: Hello Steven. Hope your not busy. I just wanted to discuss Mesut and make an offer you cannot refuse.

Steven Gerrard: No, not too busy. I chose to do all my business before the deadline day. Whats the offer then?

De Boer:View attachment 244863

Steven Gerrard: Have you been speaking with Jose? That's pretty much exactly the same as the offer he made.

De Boer: Must be what he's worth then.

Steven Gerrard: Well, I'll tell you what I told Jose ... Mesut is NOT for sale, even if he was, that offer is an insult. Offer it me up-front and it's a different story.

De Boer: Look I really can't increase on this offer, the board wont allow it.

Steven Gerrard: You best look elsewhere then.

De Boer: Think about this Steven, I'll leave you to think about it.

Steven Gerrard: Thought about ... No.
 
Next up was a trip to Goodison Park, I always enjoy visits here as the fans always seem to be up for it with the abuse they hurl at me for 90 minutes.​

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Another good performance here to make it 3 from 3.

We kept asking questions in the first half but Everton managed to stay strong as the sides went it goalless at half time.

It was the Everton who took the lead just after the hour mark. Josh Murphy capitalised on a mistake from Callum Chambers who allowed him in on goal.

Sergio Ramos then equalised however with his first goal for the club just minutes later.

Late on, Paulo Dybala struck with the winner with just 5 minutes to go after some good play from Aaron Ramsey.​
 
The next game was a very winnable home game against QPR. This is the first game at home where we were really expected to win, so I was keen to impress the home fans.​

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We didn't play brilliantly but still managed to come away with the win.

We were really poor in the first half where QPR could actually have took the lead.

Eventually, after 50 minutes, Aaron Ramsey broke the deadlock with a great striker from the edge of the box. Kieran Gibbs went on a great run and pulled the ball back to Ramsey on the edge of the box who then blasted it past the keeper.​
 
After that win against QPR, we faced our first game in the Champions League agains Red Bull Salzburg. I was torn whether to play a weakened side and rest a few for the league campaign or play our strongest side and really put a marker down for the other sides in our group.

After watching the lads train, my mind was made up ...​

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After the training session, I asked Barbosa to see me in my office.​

Steven Gerrard: Hi Gabriel, thanks for seeing me. How was training?

Barbosa: No problem gaffer, training was good thanks.

Steven Gerrard: Good lad. I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to start you in the Champions League midweek. Salzburg should be fairly straight forward and I'm interested to see what you can do from the start.

Barbosa: Thanks boss. I cant wait.

Steven Gerrard: I've been really impressed with your training and I don't feel I've given you a fair shot. Play well here and the position is yours gonig forward.

Barbosa: Thanks boss. I'll not let you down.
 
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