STEVEN GERRARD has confessed with brutal honesty that his head was totally wrecked during the last World Cup finals in 2006.
Liverpool’s driving skipper, a warrior in either Anfield red or England white, was at times reduced to a zombie-like state wondering whether he should answer another Jose Mourinho call to move to Chelsea.
The same scenario had been played out during the previous two summers, which included Euro 2004 in Portugal.
Now Gerrard has admitted for the first time that the mix of emotions badly affected his performances on the international stage in football’s greatest tournament four years ago.
But Gerrard is keen to assure England fans that any talk this summer about moves to Real Madrid or Inter Milan will not have the same adverse affect on his displays in South Africa.
High in the Austrian Alps, at England’s pre-World Cup training hideaway, Gerrard reflected on the mind games of Germany 2006.
“You’re going back to your room, reading papers, looking at the internet. You’re speaking to people at home who are telling you that stuff is going on,” he recalled.
“I knew that Chelsea were interested in signing me because my agent was telling me. This year that won’t be happening. Every time I went back to my room I was driving myself mad. Should I go to Chelsea? Should I stay?
In fact Gerrard has imposed a news blackout on anything to do with his future until after the World Cup.
He added: “People are under strict instructions not to be talking about my future or about any speculation. Right now that’s not important. What is important is to have a good World Cup, a successful World Cup.
“So agents, friends and family have been told not to talk about club stuff to me.
“Four years ago I fell into the trap of driving myself mad, thinking about my future at club level. I won’t consider my future or think about what will happen until after the World Cup.
Gerrard celebrates his 30th birthday next Sunday, often a time for soul searching, wondering what the future holds and what has already been achieved.
There was a strong hint that the machinations surrounding his Liverpool future have simply been put on hold until England have kicked their last ball in South Africa.
He admitted: “You do assess what you’ve achieved when you reach 30. A lot of players will consider what is the best move for them in the three or four weeks holiday after the World Cup.
“For me that depends on how well we do in the World Cup and what the manager is thinking. That may be taken out of your hands. But I want to make the most of this World Cup in case it’s my last one.
“It’s been a massive disappointment at Liverpool this season. We finished second the previous season and the challenge for me was – could we go one step further? This season we’ve taken steps backwards.
“It’s been a very difficult season both personally and for everyone in the squad having to deal with the amount of setbacks we’ve had.
“I’ve got to put that behind me because there’s such a massive tournament around the corner. The focus has to change to England and to make sure I do everything I can to help this team be successful.
You can tell by the glint in Gerrard’s eyes just how much the World Cup means to him. “There is nothing I can do to change what has happened at Liverpool,” he said.
“What is in my control is what happens going forward with England. I’m excited again because it’s getting close now and I can’t wait to sample another World Cup.
“There is a lot of time after the World Cup is over to change the focus back to Liverpool. Hopefully things might happen when I’m away. Hopefully there might be players coming to Liverpool who can help strengthen the team.