Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard, played his final game at Stamford Bridge Sunday before his move to MLS on Sunday. It was a nostalgic day for Steven considering the amount of great games and the rivalry he and Liverpool have had with Chelsea FC over the years. He has left with the respect of Blue’s fans and Chelsea FC manager Jose Mourinho: “I will miss him. I want my league to be always the best league. I want my league to have the best players”.
This quote is very telling of Mourinho’s personality and his attitude when it comes to his job. He loves competition and the nature that the drive to win brings him. That is all he cares about, he doesn’t care about flash or pzazz. Seeing Mourinho’s drive to win in this quote cannot help but be accompanied by his respect for Stevie G throughout his years in the Premier League. A great rivalry has come to an end.
A rivalry is important in sports, it keeps us engaged even when the season does not go as planned. Whenever you play your rival it seemingly dwarfs all other concerns for the season around you. All you care about in that moment is beating your rival. How many games you have lost coming into the game do not matter, the contract situation of players do not seem to disappear, and all that is in front of the team is taking down that rival.
It’s the approach to these rivalry games that make them special. Steven Gerrard and Liverpool have a fun rivalry with Chelsea FC. A fun rivalry that pits red against blue and Merseyside against London. The entire pageantry of the rivalry is very enjoyable and it’ll be disappointing to have to continue the rivalry without Steven Gerrard.
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It seems a strange dichotomy to miss someone you “hate” in a rivalry. You could definitely say some Chelsea supporters hated Gerrard and Liverpool. However, when there is a great rivalry for a long period of time you develop a certain kind of emotional relationship with that rival. You’ve been joyously mad at them for years! It truly is a great experience magnified by every play and emotional look on every game. Mourinho has always respected those who are great, and respect him back.
It’ll be really strange to see Steven Gerrard not in red, just as it strange to not see Frank Lampard in the only real blue of the Premier League. Being a fan of a team that has rooted against Liverpool I’m feeling strange emotions seeing Stevie G head off into the sunset. He’s a great player who hasn’t been especially dirty, usually, and has played with class and respect over the years.
It’s always fascinating to see a player stay with a team for this long, a really awesome way to end a career. Winning a Champions League trophy has to be one of the highlights of his career and an iconic moment that will last for a lifetime. When Jose Mourinho has the respect of a player you know he cares. Goodbye Stevie G.
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