Liverpool legend Ian James Rush is no stranger to the world of football as he is best regarded as one of the greatest players to have played for Liverpool. The former Welsh forward is the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, having netted a total of 346 times throughout his time at Anfield. Ian also spent short spells playing at Juventus, Newcastle United, Leeds United and several other sides, but his name resonates across the globe as a true KOP. With the Reds set to drop by Kuala Lumpur in July for a friendly match, Ian was in town to promote the match and FourthOfficial.com caught up with him for a quick chat on various issues!
FO: I’ve got to start with a question on the captain. Do you think Liverpool made the right decision in letting Steven Gerrard leave at the end of the season? Isn’t he still valuable to the team, based on his sheer leadership skills and experience alone?
IR: Well, I think we should respect his decision! Liverpool would want him to stay, but at the end of the day, he has made his decision. I really do hope he comes back to play but we have to respect him. He is a legendary player and he is irreplaceable; you would need two to three players to replace the influence he’s had on the team. But then again, as Kenny Dalglish says, no one is bigger than Liverpool Football Club.
FO: Why do you think Balotelli is struggling at Anfield? Is it an issue with his own confidence or does it have to do with him not fitting into Brendan Rodgers’ system?
IR: He is a player with quality but the problem with him is his mental strength. Brendan is teaching him on how to be a team player and not an individual player. He is a good player individually but at the end of the day, to be successful, you’ve got to become a team player. He has become rusty but that’s only because he has not been playing week in and week out. Now that he has lost the starting spot, he’s got to train harder and improve his fitness. If he follows the orders from Brendan in becoming a team player, he could be successful. There is a chance for him in the EPL, he has the support behind him so there’s no reason for him to not bounce back. As for Brendan Rodger’s system, I don’t think that it’s about him fitting in but more of him proving himself by training harder and playing as a team player. If you don’t work hard for the team, of course you won’t fit into the system
FO: If you could make a move for one forward in the market out there and bring him to Liverpool, who would you sign?
IR: The managers get paid to make that decision! There are some excellent strikers out there but at the end of the day, it’s the budget that really counts. Whether the manager thinks it’s worth it and approves of it. But if I were to have a pick, I would love to go for Messi or Rooney though obviously, we’ve got to be more realistic as well.
FO: The biggest issue in football right now seems to be time, and most managers in the Premier League aren’t exactly given that liberty, due to the nature of football and how it functions as a business these days. Your thoughts on this issue?
IR: The world works that way today. Managers just don’t get time. Sir Alex Ferguson went four to five years without winning anything. You don’t get time and you’ve got to be an instant success. I don’t believe in this and managers need to be given time. You can’t be changing things every six months. David Moyes wasn’t given the time, while Van Gaal has that liberty. Some people demand success and for that to happen, managers should be kept in the long run to produce it.
FO: Manchester United’s victory over Spurs would be a timely boost ahead of their match against Liverpool next weekend. Based on your observation, do you think their victory was a one-off performance, or is it a clear evidence of United reviving their season?
IR: To be honest, they have been playing well and winning. It’s a good sign and I think that their victory against Tottenham is good for the confidence, which makes this weekend’s match interesting. Liverpool have been on form as well, so I really hope they turn on the style this weekend. It’s good for the supporters and the atmosphere will be amazing for the Premier League in general.
FO: Judging by their form, which particular United player would be a threat to Liverpool next Sunday?
IR: Wayne Rooney without a doubt. He has always been a danger towards Liverpool for a long time now. He has been an excellent goalscorer and coming from Everton, it’s always an added threat.
FO: There’s massive pressure on Louis van Gaal to deliver Champions League qualification this season, but should he fail to do so, do you think United should opt to retain him, or proceed to replace him with another manager.
IR: Obviously not, you can’t keep chopping the chain by changing managers. I mean if they don’t make it to the top 4, what are you going to do? Manchester United is a big club, it is fair enough that the Champions League is crucial for them. But if they don’t make it, at least you got the experience of fighting for the spot this season, and you’ll just have to pick things up and work harder next year. There’s no reason to replace him.
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