• Premier League

Zidane: Gerrard deserves a Premier League title

ESPN staff
April 17, 2014
Gerrard has lead by example this year

Former Real Madrid star Zinedine Zidane believes Steven Gerrard deserves to win a Premier League title with Liverpool, according to the Daily Mail.

Zidane stated Gerrard's reluctance to leave Anfield, despite attracting widespread interest from both Madrid and Chelsea while in the prime of his career, has been invaluable to the club and the midfielder should taste championship glory. Similarly, defender Jon Flanagan insisted no other player deserves a Premier League winners' medal than Gerrard.

Brendan Rodgers's side have been a surprise package this season and currently sit two points ahead of Chelsea at the top of the league, with four games to play. While Rodgers has insisted he will not ditch Liverpool's values in the chase for a first domestic title in 24 years, Zidane admits it would be a "shame" if Gerrard ended his career without a league title.

"He has had a great career winning many things - but it would be a big shame for him if he was never to win the league with Liverpool," Zidane said. "For everything that he has given - he deserves a league title.

"I don't think that is any secret that Real Madrid and Chelsea had big interest in him and that is just the teams the media knew about.

"He could have played for any team in Europe - but he turned them down. That sort of loyalty should be rewarded with a title.

"England have probably produced the two best midfield players of the last 20 years in Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes.

"There was a point when Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world. It is unusual to get complete midfield players who can do everything, but that is what he was.

"His legs are not going to be what they were five or six years ago - but his presence and leadership are invaluable for Liverpool."

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