Daniel Sturridge reflects on selection and injury struggles at Liverpool with Geoff Shreeves
Saturday 14 January 2017 10:02, UK
Ahead of Liverpool’s crunch trip to Manchester United, Sky Sports’ Geoff Shreeves sat down with Daniel Sturridge to discuss his selection struggles, injury problems and how he views his spell at Anfield...
Daniel Sturridge doesn't do many interviews. It's not that he is distant or unhelpful, in fact quite the opposite. He is one of the most courteous and friendly people you could wish to meet.
He carries out the media duties he does fulfil with candour and warmth. At no point in our interview did he object to the line of questioning, whether it be about injury or not being selected.
In person it is impossible not to like him. And that is his point. He's well aware that so many people judge, criticise and comment on his every word and deed but he didn't ask for that to be the case.
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He's not complaining, far from it. It goes with the territory. He simply has an unshakeable belief in who he is and what he does.
What's more he delivers his views with a smile on his face and an appreciation of his lot...
SHREEVES: Everyone says you're one of the most polite and courteous footballers. Is that important to you?
STURRIDGE: It’s important to be courteous, it has to be. I was raised very well by my parents so it’s about being polite and courteous.
SHREEVES: You are definitely one of the most talked about footballers...
STURRIDGE: It’s part of the job, some are talked about more than others so you have to take it with a pinch of salt, you cannot take it personally.
SHREEVES: Do you think there are misconceptions about you?
STURRIDGE: I’ve always said that, but I feel not everybody gets the opportunity to meet people in life. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and I feel like everyone judges people, regardless of whether they know someone or not, they have an opinion based on the persona of the person. I guess you can only have a real opinion of who they are as a person once you meet someone. I’m an open book, I speak to people all the time and generally have a smile on my face. I’m true to who I am so you can never always smile and be happy.
SHREEVES: People will have opinions of you based on what they see on or off the pitch. Within that framework, are there misconceptions of you?
STURRIDGE: I don’t know what the conceptions are, so I cannot say. I don’t really like to pay attention too much to what is being said about me, only because the people closest to me, my parents, family and friends know me best. So I feel like their opinions mean more to me than anyone else’s.
SHREEVES: What is your opinion on where you are right now and your Liverpool career to date?
STURRIDGE: So far, besides winning trophies, which we haven’t done in the four years I’ve been here, I’ve played well. My goals-to-game ratio is pretty good. I was brought here to score goals, that’s a striker’s job, and I’ve delivered that. Of course it would be nice to have silverware next to your name, just as every footballer would like to have, but I’ve given my all and that’s what’s most important.
SHREEVES: Have you played enough?
STURRIDGE: I’ve played enough in terms of my goals-to-game ratio. I’ve delivered the number the club have bought me to do. Of course I’d love to play every single game, like every player wants to, but sometimes I’ve not been available. It hurts inside when you’re not available to help your team-mates win games and be successful. But when I have been available I’ve produced good performances. It’s about continuing to improve and to be available and give my all for the team.
SHREEVES: Your goalscoring ratio is incredible, particularly in your first season where you flew out of the blocks. Has it been hard to follow that?
STURRIDGE: It’s not necessarily been hard. It was a great season but it’s not been hard to follow that, it’s a case of starting games regularly and being on the pitch week in, week out. If you’re not fit you’re not available for selection but when you are fit, to be starting games is most important. When you’re on the pitch and you’re starting, you’ve got the full game to supply the goods.
That’s nothing towards any manager I’ve worked with, every player likes to start games because it’s hard to come on and have an impact as a substitute. I judge myself when I’m starting games instead of coming off the bench because it’s a hard task for anyone. When you start games, that’s when you can judge and critique yourself more. At the end of the season you you look at your appearances it doesn’t say starts and subs, it just says appearances.
SHREEVES: There are two aspects to starting games; fitness and being picked by the manager. Given the injuries you’ve had, and the times you’ve been unavailable, clearly you’re going to be frustrated. But do you feel you’ve been an injury-prone player? Do you feel you’ve picked up injuries more than other players?
STURRIDGE: No. Define injury-prone. I’ve played many games for Liverpool. Last season I played a lot, finished the top scorer in all competitions. Last season, regardless of the number of games I played, I still would do my best on the pitch, that is what’s important. It’s not about whether you’re injured or not, it’s about what you do when you’re on the pitch. Of course there are 38 games in a Premier League season, and you want to be available for every single one – and all the cup games too!
Every player wants to play every game and be successful, that’s football. There are times when you’re not fit and its about how you come out of that, how you rebound and put yourself back on the pitch. Every player has their heart on their sleeve, they’ll battle through injuries – I’ve played on many injuries before; knocks, tears, everything. It’s about pushing yourself to your limits for the club and I feel I’ve done that.
SHREEVES: So you’ll play through an injury?
STURRIDGE: Of course, I’ve done that many times and I’ll continue to do it.
SHREEVES: What has this manager said to you about fitting into his team and where he sees you best?
STURRIDGE: We’ve not had any discussions about that. Maybe when he first came to the club we had a conversation but this going back over a year. I’m not the type of player who knocks on the manager’s door to have discussions about where I fit in and what’s going on, I like to go with the flow.
The manager picks the team so it’s never about making complaints, it’s about training hard, putting your best foot forward, keeping your aggression inside knowing that when you get your opportunity you take it out the opposition.
SHREEVES: Do you feel you’re an automatic first pick right now?
STURRIDGE: That’s the manager’s job. That’s up to you (the media) to make that decision. I don’t feel as though I’m the right person to be saying whether I should be an automatic pick or not. That’s down to the manager and his staff. Everyone else’s opinions don’t count, even if I think I am it doesn’t matter.
SHREEVES: Have there been occasions when you’ve been fit and available and the manager has chosen not to use you?
STURRIDGE: Many times, but that’s football. You have roll with it, you have to go with the flow. There has been many an occasion when I’ve not been selected.
SHREEVES: How do you deal with that?
STURRIDGE: Like every other player does. It hurts inside but it’s part of the game, every player past and present has dealt with the things I’m going through now. So it’s not time to get the violin out, you’ve got to dig in, fight, show your character, put your best foot forward when you’re put on a football pitch and give your all when you’re not on the pitch. Then, when you come on, you’ve got to do your best, it’s simple. There are no qualms or complaints from my side. I believe I’m the best striker Liverpool has, that’s my opinion.
The manager and everyone else is entitled to their opinion as well. You have to have self-belief though. It’s the manager that picks the team so if, at that specific moment he doesn’t feel I’m the best striker for the job, that’s his decision. I have to take it on the chin, I cannot be upset about it. You have to take the rough with the smooth in football, you can never take things personally.
SHREEVES: Because of your demeanour, and the fact you haven’t complained publicly or privately, would it be a huge error to mistake you as someone who doesn’t care if they’re in the team or not?
STURRIDGE: No, far from it. If I complain where does it get me? It gets me nowhere. It doesn’t get anyone anywhere complaining and being a bad apple. The manager sees me and every player training every day, he sees everyone putting in the work. It’s the same everywhere. You have to let your football do the talking and work your hardest. It doesn’t matter what you say to the manager, he’s going to choose the best 11 players for the specific opposition at that time. I can never take it personally.
I’m an ambitious player, an ambitious person. I want to be the best, I want to be known as the best striker and help my team win trophies. I would be lying if I said I was happy on the bench, no one wants to sit on the bench. But it’s down to the manager to pick the team. If he chooses not to select me I can’t take it personally because it could affect my performance, and when I affects your performance your attitude is called into question, not the fact you’ve been on the bench. If I can start every game I’m happy. If I’m on the bench I’m an unhappy man, but it won’t affect my performance.
Catch Geoff Shreeves' full interview with Daniel Sturridge ahead of Man Utd v Liverpool on Super Sunday, 12.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD. Sky Q 2TB customers can watch the game in Ultra HD. Visit skysports.com/uhd for details.
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