Im Just Lucky to be alive says Gerard Houllier
By Craig McWalter
April 20 2002
Gerard Houllier has played down Liverpool's title challenge and said that he's just lucky to be alive. Liverpool Boss speaking on the eve of yet another vital game for Liverpool.
By Craig McWalter
April 20 2002
Gerard Houllier has played down Liverpool's title challenge and said that he's just lucky to be alive. Liverpool Boss speaking on the eve of yet another vital game for Liverpool.
Houllier, now back in full control at Anfield after life-saving heart surgery six months ago, will be plotting Liverpool's 10th win in their last 11 Premiership games against Derby tomorrow to keep the pressure on Arsenal and Manchester United.
But Houllier, in a Interview with the BBC, claims he is just lucky to be around to witness the most thrilling title climax in years - considering the way he was taken ill against Leeds back in October.
He said: 'Yes, I do feel lucky and there are several reasons for that. Firstly, it happened in Liverpool and the city has a very good cardiothoracic centre - and also one of the best heart surgeons in the country was not on his holidays".
'Also, I might have just gone home and gone to sleep thinking I was just feeling tired. We were due out on a long flight to Kiev the following day. So yes, there are several reasons why I feel lucky.'
'It never occurred to me that I would not be back once I knew I would be fine. I knew then I would be back in business. I knew it would take time and in fairness I thought I would be back earlier than I was.'
Houllier heard the words of close friends in football, such as Leeds boss David O'Leary and Arsene Wenger, advising him to walk away from the intensity of management with his health intact.
But he said: 'I hope the people who said I should retire from football were saying that because they cared about my health.'
Houllier will wait for fitness checks on Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann and striker Emile Heskey, who are both nursing injuries, before deciding on his squad for the make-or-break clash with Derby.
But Houllier, in a Interview with the BBC, claims he is just lucky to be around to witness the most thrilling title climax in years - considering the way he was taken ill against Leeds back in October.
He said: 'Yes, I do feel lucky and there are several reasons for that. Firstly, it happened in Liverpool and the city has a very good cardiothoracic centre - and also one of the best heart surgeons in the country was not on his holidays".
'Also, I might have just gone home and gone to sleep thinking I was just feeling tired. We were due out on a long flight to Kiev the following day. So yes, there are several reasons why I feel lucky.'
'It never occurred to me that I would not be back once I knew I would be fine. I knew then I would be back in business. I knew it would take time and in fairness I thought I would be back earlier than I was.'
Houllier heard the words of close friends in football, such as Leeds boss David O'Leary and Arsene Wenger, advising him to walk away from the intensity of management with his health intact.
But he said: 'I hope the people who said I should retire from football were saying that because they cared about my health.'
Houllier will wait for fitness checks on Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann and striker Emile Heskey, who are both nursing injuries, before deciding on his squad for the make-or-break clash with Derby.
View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon