John Arne Riise: Scholes and Lampard couldn’t have done what Gerrard did for Liverpool
Former Liverpool defender recaps on epic 2005 Champions League final comeback
John Arne Riise has told BetMGM that former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard is comfortably the most complete midfielder compared with Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard and that neither could have done what Gerrard did for Liverpool.
“For me, there is no debate who is the most complete midfielder when it comes to Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard,” Riise said. “It’s Stevie G.”
“I’m sure that Steven could have done what Lampard and Scholes did for Chelsea and Manchester United but I really don’t think that Lampard and Scholes couldn’t have done what Gerrard did for Liverpool.
“That’s how good a player he was and what an influence he had on the team and the club.”
Riise continued: “Stevie had everything. Some players might have more of a certain characteristic but he had everything – there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do.
“He could tackle, head the ball, pass, shoot, sprint, run forever, assist and score goals at a level I’ve never seen before nor did I ever play with.
“His personality was infectious and he made everyone around him better. Every day he’d come to training and wanted to be the best player on the training pitch and, if he wasn’t, he would find out why and make sure he was.
“He was so good with us as team-mates and he always knew what to say at the right time. There were times when we were under pressure in big games and he just delivered – that goal against Olympiakos, the Champions League final goal, the FA Cup final goals against West Ham. He would never, ever let you down and we relied on him.
“I played with him for seven years and I got to know him pretty well. He’s by far the best I played with and the most complete in terms of what he could do both on and off the pitch.”
Liverpool would have taken 3-0 at full-time in Champions League final
The ex-Liverpool player was part of the memorable 2005 Champions League final comeback in Istanbul and he recapped what was said at half-time after his side found themselves in deep trouble at 3-0 down.
“When you’re sitting in the dressing room at half-time, 3-0 down, against the best defensive side in the world there’s not much hope!” Riise said.
“Honestly, we would have taken 3-0. If we had drawn the second half we would have been happy given the position we found ourselves in. Football is a weird game, though, and the final really showed that.
“Our focus was not to lose the second half and not to get embarrassed by losing by six or seven.
“As we went out for the second half, Stevie [Steven Gerrard] and a few of the other players just said that goals affect things like confidence, so try to get the first goal and you never know.
“We then scored three goals in six minutes and I think that early goal gave us energy while it made Milan really nervous.
“After we had won, every emotion just came out of me.” Riise added. “I was absolutely dead having played the 90 minutes, extra time and penalties. You really want to take it all in and celebrate with your team-mates and family but there is so much you have to do before that like speaking to the media.
“The hotel we were staying in had organised a big party. Loads of the lads were celebrating and partying but I honestly couldn’t stand up. I was just so tired physically and emotionally that I went to bed.
“We all went out in Liverpool the night after the open-top bus tour and that’s when what we had done really sunk in. It’s an unreal feeling because nobody expects you to win the Champions League, especially the way we did it.
“I still pinch myself about it now. When you’re playing you probably don’t actually realise quite what an achievement it is to win the Champions League.
“I’m always surprised how many articles there are about the Champions League final now so, to do what we did in the way we did it, is something that me and all the team will be able to cherish forever.”