Benítez: Gerrard right to snub Chelsea move and stay at Liverpool
Ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benítez says Steven Gerrard made the right decision in turning down the chance to join Chelsea
Rafael Benítez believes Steven Gerrard made the right decision in turning down the chance to join Chelsea in 2005 and opting to stay at Liverpool.
The England international was on the verge of sealing a big-money transfer to Stamford Bridge following Liverpool’s Champions League triumph that year.
But the midfielder had a last-minute change of heart and opted to stay at the Merseyside outfit, who were under the stewardship of Benítez at the time.
“He won the Champions League and he is a legend in Liverpool,” the Chelsea interim boss told the Daily Mail ahead of the Blues’ trip to Anfield on Sunday.
“I think he will say he made the right decision at the time.”
Benítez, who was in charge at Liverpool between 2004 and 2010, added: “Gerrard is one of the greatest England players we have seen.
“He was good when we arrived at Liverpool but he got better with the experience of playing massive games in the Champions League. We had maybe the best years of Stevie.”
