Dustin Guerra told Sky News: “To have Steven Gerrard here, someone tried and tested, strong in midfield, to have the technique and endurance that a lot of American players are still working on, is phenomenal”.
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CARSON, Calif. (AP) LA Galaxy midfielder Stefan Ishizaki intends to sign with a team in his native Sweden after mutually parting ways with the MLS club. Like his predecessor before, Gerrard aims to deliver. “He’s certainly someone I leaned on for advice, asked a few questions before I chose to come here”.
“If there’s anyone out there that thinks I’m coming here for a holiday and a last pay cheque, they’ll be proved wrong very soon”.
The Galaxy say Ishizaki’s departure isn’t related to ex- England captain Steven Gerrard’s arrival this week.
The Galaxy did not find real success with Beckham, on the field, until Arena arrived in August 2008 and rebuilt the team nearly from scratch while starting to develop a foundation that has become The envy of the league.
The Galaxy hope and expect Steven Gerrard can make a similar splash. “Our league is quickly becoming a league of choice”.
Gerrard, who has moved into a US$12 million (S$16.3 million) rented mansion in the ritzy celebrity enclave of Bel Air with his wife and three daughters, said he is looking forward to making a flying start with his new club.
By the time the English midfielder was formally introduced by the club in the afternoon to begin his MLS career, there was nothing but California sunshine outside StubHub Center. “The first is the continued investment and focus from our owner Mr. (Phil) Anschutz and…”
“We were linking up well, the play increases in speed with Robbie and Stevie”, Lletget said.
He was also a wanted man, both in England and throughout the Old World, but he spurned multiple offers in favor of the Galaxy and MLS.
“I’ve been in Liverpool all my life”, he said. I needed a fresh challenge. “The players have got to get used to me, the way I play”. “But this is a good place for me to come and enjoy my football, and hopefully add a trophy to my collection”.
The first ball Gerrard kicked in practice was to Keane, and they showed a promising connection throughout the hour-long session.
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Gerrard’s carefully orchestrated yet more measured introduction, tempered with more realistic expectations about what his contribution may be, suggest a wary Galaxy are acutely aware of not repeating the public relations debacle that overshadowed Beckham’s first several seasons.
