The Times Interview: Jamie Carragher

Carragher’s Guide to Liverpool, Part 4: Don’t Try To Be Someone You’re Not
Ever done anything flash to earn a ribbing from the boys back in Bootle? “I remember I got a wallet once and got slaughtered for that.”

You mean a fancy Gucci number, with special Premiership-footballer, super-expensive leather? “Nah, just a normal wallet. Where I’m from, you carry money in your pockets, and I got slaughtered by my mates. I’d never had a wallet before and they thought I was trying to be someone I’m not. I got rid of it. Never had one since.”

Carragher’s Guide to Liverpool, Part 5: Why Leave?

We all dream of a team of Carraghers.” (To the tune of Yellow Submarine, a supporters’ song.)

OWEN departed. Gerrard is considering Chelsea. If the “Rafa Revolution” proves false, it would only be natural for Liverpool’s other home-grown hero to quit Anfield. “I’d never do that,” says Carragher. “I think it’s very important to stay here. Winning the league is what we’re building for. That’s our manager’s aim. I don’t think we’re capable of winning the league next year, though we’ ll try, but I’m sure that by the manager’s third season we’ll be challenging. If you offered me now the chance, just once, to win the league with Liverpool before the end of my career, I’d bite your hands off. If you win the league here once, that’s probably worth winning it three or four times at another club.”

Gerrard take note. Carragher’s neighbour in Blundellsands is considering putting the house on the market because of the lure of silverware at Stamford Bridge. It is argued that getting in the Champions League final might be one way of making Gerrard stay. But, says Carragher: “We’re not trying to win so we can keep Stevie Gerrard. We’re chasing success for ourselves and for the fans. Don’t get me wrong, we’re all hopeful Stevie stays. We showed against Juventus we can live without him, but he’s our best player.”

Whatever Gerrard decides, Carragher expects significant transfer action at Anfield this summer. Benitez is betraying increasing frustration at Liverpool’s inability to play in the Premiership like they do in the Champions League, something Carragher believes is down to foreign players not yet adjusting to English football’s physical demands. “We should be doing a lot better in the league. I think whatever happens in Europe, the manager’s going to want to change things because he came from Valencia, where he was used to consistency every week. Even if we won the Champions League, I could see four or five new players coming in.”

I mention a campaign on a Liverpool website, in recognition of his marvels, to come up with a new Carragher song. Two he laughs about are: “He’s Scouse, he’s sound, he’ll t*** yer with a pound, Carragher!” (which he knew about) and “He’s Scouse, he’s sound, he can’t get in the ground, Carra’s dad!” (which he did not). The latter song refers to a temporary ban on attending matches imposed on Carragher Sr after he was arrested for being disorderly at England v Holland in February. The former is about an incident three years ago when a coin was chucked at Carragher at Highbury and he threw it back into the crowd.

“I’ve moved on from the scallywag I once was and matured a little bit,” he says. “I think I had children at a good age. Now I enjoy spending time with them, young James and Mia, probably more than with the lads.”

A perfect day in the life of Jamie Carragher? “Today wasn’t too bad. But a perfect day would be getting a decent lie-in, a bit of training, nothing too difficult. Maybe score a goal in a practice game . . . go home, put the kids to bed and watch a bit of football on the telly.”

It’d be pretty simple, then? “Yeah. Nothing too flash.”

 

 

Copyright - The Times