By Laurie Bonne
20 Mar 2011 20:21:00
Jamie Carragher, Liverpool (Getty Images)
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Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has admitted that he didn’t intend to be malicious with the challenge on Manchester United‘s Nani that left the winger with a gashed shin and insists it’s the first tackle he’s made in his entire career that “did not look so good”.
The Reds centre-back was booked for the challenge during Liverpool’s recent 3-1 victory over their rivals and claims he was pleased to see the Portuguese return to training just under a week later.
“I apologised for it and said it was a poor tackle so I was pleased to see he was back in training six days later,” he said, as quoted by the News of the World.
“I have played nearly 700 games and for 15 years in a position where you have to make dozens of tackles every week and that’s the first time I’ve made a challenge which did not look so good.
“Nani miscontrolled it slightly and the ball was in mid-air as I got to him. I thought I could get the ball and I mistimed it.
“There have been a few comments from Nani and Sir Alex Ferguson since but it certainly wasn’t intended to be malicious.”
Despite being knocked out of the Europa League by Braga on Thursday, Carragher admitted his belief that the worst is over with regards to the club’s decline under their former American owners.
“It is much different now to when we went out of Europe a year ago,” he added.
“I feel that the worst is over. Since the new owners arrived, Kenny Dalglish and Steve Clarke came in and Damien Comolli joined the club, you get a sense there is a clear direction and
things are moving forward.
“The owners have not made a decision on the manager long-term yet, but the current set-up has worked well.
“The ownership is right and the management team is right, so it is just on the pitch where we need to get it right again and there is belief we will be back competing for a Champions League
spot next season.
“Obviously it is disappointing to go out of Europe and it has not been a good season. We are not going to shy away from that, but there is a big change.
“There was so much uncertainty when we went out last season and it is not like that now. I’d say the morale across the club has improved. You see the lads and staff with smiles on
their faces again, with everyone enjoying being at Liverpool.”
The Liverpool centre-back went on to praise the capture of Andy Carroll from Newcastle United in the January transfer window and has backed the £35 million striker to force his way back into the England squad.
“I’m a big watcher of football on the television and I can remember seeing Andy Carroll in the first few weeks of the season thinking he has set the Premier League alight,” he added.
“I was thinking, ‘He doesn’t half look a handful, that lad, he’d be a nightmare to play against’. I thought I’d love us to be able to go into the transfer market and sign a player like that but at
the start of this season you would never have thought it possible.
“He is young, powerful and has got so much about him he has the potential to be Liverpool and England’s No.9 for the next 10 years. I’m sure the first chance he gets, Fabio Capello will have him back in the England squad. To go and sign him as we did really sent out a message.
“Those first few signings by the new owners are really exciting. Luis Suarez looks a fantastic prospect. You can see how that partnership can develop. When we have Andy fully fit and firing we’re going to have a strong forward line for many seasons.
“I’m sure at the start of next season top four will be a realistic aim.”
