The former Liverpool midfielder awaits a frosty welcome when he brings his Aston Villa squad to the Theater of Dreams.
Steven Gerrard said he doesn’t expect a welcome reception at Old Trafford on Monday when Aston Villa face Manchester United.
The Red Devils were among Gerrard’s fiercest rivals during his Liverpool season, although the former captain insists he won’t let a few boos from home fans deter him.
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Villa travels to Manchester for the FA Cup third round hoping to win at United for the second time in five months, but Gerrard is aware of the difficulty of achieving such a feat.
Gerrard will go to Old Trafford as a manager for the first time on Monday. Photo credit: Getty.
“Anfield and Old Trafford, these are places that history says are really difficult places to win football games against top teams and top players,” he told reporters.
“But these are environments and teams that you test yourself and that you want to compete against. I am sure the players share these thoughts.
“I’m really looking forward to the game,” he added. “Yeah, I won’t get the greeting I want, but it doesn’t matter.
“I’ve had it before and I’m still here, I still survived that greeting. It will be a really interesting and fascinating game from a personal point of view, but for me it is more important how the team does than myself. “
Gerrard hopes for more memories
Gerrard had mixed experiences as a player during his trips to Old Trafford and lost more often than he won.
One encounter he enjoyed however was a 4-1 away win in 2009 when Gerrard kissed the camera after a penalty kick.
Gerrard’s famous camera kiss celebration. Photo credit: Getty.
Gerrard’s famous camera kiss celebration. Photo credit: Getty.“That was not planned,” said the 41-year-old when asked about the celebration. “This game of this magnitude was obviously a very well-watched game back then, shall we say.
“My experience against Manchester United as a player has been very mixed, with lots of ups and downs, with different kinds of results in the end.
“But the emotions are high, there was a lot of rivalry with Manchester United. But that moment is over, it is over, there is a lot going on about Aston Villa now and it’s about creating more memories.
“We have the opportunity to get to the next round on Monday evening, that’s the only focus for me.
“I don’t really go back to any other previous experience because it’s not necessary. I won’t win any of it. “
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Gerrard’s record against United
As a player, Gerrard met the Red Devils 35 times – only during his career did he meet Chelsea. Of these encounters, Gerrard won 13, only drawn twice and lost 20 times.
The ex-midfielder scored nine times and provided five assists but was sent off twice. The last of them came in his last meeting against United when he was sacked at halftime within a minute of his substitution in 2015.
He also lost 4-0 at Old Trafford in 2003 and was on the losing side in 2010/11 after a hat-trick by Dimitar Berbatov.
However, Gerrard was part of the team that defeated United in the 2003 League Cup final and he played twice when Liverpool eliminated the Red Devils from the FA Cup.
