Broken-hearted, but Gerrard says Liverpool face great future

By Barry Whelan May 24, 2007, 4:35 GMT

Athens - Steven Gerrard says that Wednesday's Champions League final defeat to AC Milan left him 'broken-hearted,' but the Liverpool captain predicts a bright future for the club.

The 26-year-old England midfielder said that disappointment at failing to lift the Champions League trophy for a second time in three seasons was mingled with excitement at the club's future.

With the promised investment in the team by new American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, manager Rafael Benitez indicated that he would be busy this summer in the transfer market.

'When you win, you are pleased and happy; when you lose you have to think about why and have to start thinking about the future,' Benitez said.

Reports say Benitez could have a transfer kitty of around 50 million pounds (98.7 million dollars).

'I am happy with my players, but we need to improve to challenge in the Premiership,' Benitez said before the final.

'We want to achieve even more. It is important not to think that by getting to the final we have done everything, because we have the potential to be one of the biggest clubs in Europe in every way.'

Gerrard said that he 'definitely' expected changes.

'I think the future's really bright at Liverpool,' he said. 'It's been well documented that the people in charge are going to strengthen the team and are going to build and take the club to the next level, so as a player that's really exciting.'

Playing in an advanced midfield role for most of the game, Gerrard was an all-action figure in the Olympic Stadium as Liverpool dominated the first half only to concede a goal just before halftime, when Andrea Pirlo's free-kick was deflected into the net by Pippo Inzaghi.

Gerrard himself had a great chance to level just after the hour, only to see his shot saved by Deda. Before the game, Gerrard had called for the players to be heroes, and he was probably only a goal away from being the man of the match.

But that award instead went to Inzaghi, whose second goal eight minutes from time proved enough for Milan.

Dirk Kuyt's 89th-minute header came too late to revive hopes of another amazing comeback to rival the feats of the final two years ago in Istanbul, where Liverpool reversed a 3-0 deficit.

'We've lost the Champions League final, one of the biggest games you can play, so I am broken hearted, but you've got to move on,' Gerrard said.

'I think we knew before the game it was going to be about small details, and they got that bit of luck and scored at a really important time. It was difficult to go in down at halftime, but I think we can be proud how we approached the game. I think we controlled it. But Milan are a great side, and I think at the end they just deserved it.'

Gerrard is set to be offered a new contract as Benitez bids to mount a stronger challenge against champions Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal in the Premier League. Liverpool, who finished third in the league behind United and Chelsea, won the last of their 18 league titles in 1990.

However, Benitez has not been briefing his captain on the details of his spending plans with the US owners.

'I am sure Rafa has meetings with them all the time, and he is telling them what he wants, so I think we have to watch this space and see,' he said.

'We have got the players to have a successful future, there's no doubt about that. The league has got to be a priority, for the manager, for the players, the new people in charge. It's been a long time since this club has won the league, so we have got to improve.'

'You can feel the optimism and feel the fan's excitement. This team will be strengthened. I think, how we've performed in the league in the last couple of years, you can't get away from the fact that changes need to be made - not major changes, but the team needs to be strengthened.'

Gerrard says that joining the England squad next week for European Championship qualifiers will help him overcome the disappointment of Wednesday's defeat.

'You've got to move on and look forward to the next game, and luckily for me that's 10 days away. It will help take the focus off this, but this will hurt me for a long time.'

Meanwhile, Gerrard was full of praise for the Liverpool supporters who came to Athens by the tens of thousands - the majority without tickets - and vastly outnumbered AC Milan fans at the ground.

'That's Liverpool fans for you. They are with you when you're lifting cups, and they are with you when you have setbacks. I think that's why they are the best supporters in the world,' he said.

'They've been with us since the qualifying rounds and have helped us get to the final. I think that's why I'm broken hearted at the moment, because I am disappointed we never delivered for them.'