Some of world football's biggest figures paid tribute to Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard yesterday after he announced his official retirement from football, including Sergio Ramos, Luis Suarez and Kaka, among others.
One player, however, paid tribute to Gerrard in his own, special way. Former Liverpool teammate El Hadji Diouf has caused huge controversy in the past, slating both Gerrard and Carragher, and the 35-year-old has reignited his war of words during an interview with French channel SFR Sport
As well as claiming Gerrard was "afraid of looking into his eyes", he went onto say that "'when I arrived (at Liverpool) I showed him he was nothing at all. He was nothing at all."
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Diouf appeared on French TV with former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit, who questioned his remarks about Steven Gerrard during the show.
Here's what Diouf and Petit said in full:
Diouf: "'People told me at Liverpool, there was some guys you could not touch, but I touched them. That is why it was complicated for me.
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Petit then asked: 'Are you talking about Steven Gerrard?'
Diouf replied: "I do. Stevie G and Jamie Carragher, the two scousers. When I arrived I showed him he was nothing at all. He was nothing at all. I asked him to tell me in which big competition, Euros or World Cup, people think about him."
Petit responded: "I cannot let you say that about Steven Gerrard, he was an immense player."
Diouf: "I repeat. I respect the player, very big player, but the man, I do not respect. And I told him, I let him know that. With all my respect I let him know. For me in Liverpool, he was not just a player like anyone else. He had to work and play his football as I had to work and play my football.
"Then as you know, there were some brown-nosers, who went to the manager to repeat what I said. That was the real problem. When Gerrard did that, we had an argument, like real men.
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"That is why he does not like me. He knows I say what I think, that when it is not right, no problem, I am up for it. He could not, he was afraid of looking into my eyes. He was afraid of talking to me. Let's not forget when I arrived I did not ask for his shirt. He asked for my Senegal shirt for one of his mates."
Gerard Houllier brought Diouf to Anfield for £10 million in June 2002 after he enjoyed a successful World Cup with Senegal, but many say he caused more harm than good, especially when it came to his relationship with fellow teammates.
As you can imagine, Twitter reacted to Diouf's comments about Gerrard:
What do you think of Diouf's bold comments?
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Let us know in the comments.
(H/T: SFR Sport)
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