Gerrard backs pal Rooney to get over his off-field problems

Published>Tue, Sep 07 10 01:51 PM

London, Sept.7 (ANI): England skipper Steven Gerrard has come out in support of striker Wayne Rooney after having emerged from his own nightmare last year.

The Liverpool midfielder, who leads England against Switzerland tonight, said: "Incredibly enough, I played some of my best football when I was going through my court case.

According to The Sun, in those six months, Gerrard lost just three of the 24 games he played for Liverpool and England, winning 17 of them. He scored 13 times in that spell as Liverpool finished second in the Premier League.

He is now hoping that adversity will work for Rooney as well.

The key, he said, was for Rooney to separate his on-field and off-field lives.

"If you have an issue off the pitch, you're in a situation where you have to park it. And then get on with the rest of your life. But this is where football sometimes can be a great release. Once the game starts, you're focused on what happens on the pitch - not what's going on off it," Gerrard said.

He added: "I'm sure that's what will happen with Wayne as soon as the referee blows his whistle."

Of Rooney' state of mind, Gerrard said: "Well, I don't think he's going to need a slap on the back from me - especially after the way he played against Bulgaria. Round the hotel and in training, he seems fine, the same as normal. Then again, only time will tell." (ANI)

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