CARSON, Calif. – Steven Gerrard says he's “itching” to get onto the field with the LA Galaxy, and he'll get his first chance on Saturday night when they take on Mexico's Club América in an International Champions Cup friendly at StubHub Center.
Gerrard is slated to start and play 45 minutes in his club debut, and he can barely wait.
“I've been excited since day one, and I've been waiting for this moment,” Gerrard said following LA's training session on Friday morning. “It was quite frustrating watching the team [last weekend] against Toronto. I was very pleased with the win, but I was itching to get out there and join the boys, so I get my opportunity [Saturday] to play 45. I need them minutes for my fitness, and, hopefully, in a couple of weeks' time, I'll be sharp and ready to go.”
The Liverpool legend, who signed with the Galaxy in January, became eligible when the summer transfer window opened on Wednesday. He's be training with the club the past two weeks and says he's building toward LA's next MLS match, next Friday's California Clasico against San Jose at StubHub.
“I spoke to [head coach Bruce Arena], and the manager says he wants to build my minutes up,” Gerrard reported. “The idea of the first couple of games is to get used to the team and the shape and the way the players play, with a big eye on the first league game on the 17th for me to be ready for 90 minutes and to go all guns blazing.
“I expect [against América] what I've been doing for the last 17 years. I'm going to try to search for fitness and consistency as quick as possible. I want to win the game, even though I'm only playing 45. I see this as a very important game.”
Captain Robbie Keane, Gerrard's longtime friend and former Liverpool teammate, said he expects fans will see Gerrard “as he always is.”
“He'll be passionate, he wants to win,” Keane said. “I'm sure he's excited to put that Galaxy jersey on for his first game. He's an experienced player, he's clever, he knows we've got bigger games coming up, so I wouldn't say he's going to hold himself back, because he's not that kind of player, but he [and the] whole team will be clever in terms of [not] going in for stupid tackles. The last thing we want is getting people injured.”
The Galaxy figure to play close to a first-choice lineup in the first half against the reigning CONCACAF Champions League winners, with defender Todd Dunivant slated to make his initial first-team appearance since early April. Gerrard will, as expected, play in central midfield, next to Juninho.
Arena says he'll primarily be employed as an attacking midfielder.
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“We need to get used to Steven, Steven has to get used to our team, but we're not bringing him here to be a defensive midfielder. He needs to be a little bit closer to goal,” Arena said following Tuesday's news conference to introduce Gerrard. “He'll work hand in hand with Juninho; they'll get to understand each other.
“We don't necessarily define one over the other in midfield. They'll share responsibilities, although we would think that Steven will be a little bit more forward than Juninho.”
Arena expects a crisper Galaxy with the Englishman on the field.
“I think we're a little limited with our passing in the midfield, and he's a player with a lot of quality in that area,” Arena said. “He also scored goals as a midfielder, he's good on set pieces, he can score on free kicks – that's something that we're missing. He's experienced. He can win tackles in the center of midfield, which has not been a strength of ours, either, so I think he'll, hopefully, fill some voids that we've had.”
Gerrard is pleased just to have a game to focus on.
“I've done too much talking this week,” he said. “I feel as if I've been doing media every minute of every day, but I'm sure that'll calm down, and I can focus on the football. There's nerves and excitement, but I can't wait until kickoff.”
