Shaun Wright-Phillips has played alongside a number of fantastic talents, however Steven Gerrard for him was the best player that he ever played with.
The former Manchester City and Chelsea winger has been in squads alongside the likes of Frank Lampard, Richard Dunne, Didier Drogba and a whole heap of other talented players.
However, the one player that came to mind when asked which teammate stands out was the current Rangers manager and Liverpool legend Gerrard.
Wright-Phillips was speaking to our exclusive OTB Sports UEFA Champions League Final Preview show in association with Pepsi Max, when he discussed how good Gerrard was.
“For me, I would have to say Stevie G,” Wright-Phillips said. “Stevie Gerrard was frightening.
“He doesn’t get as much applause as he should have when he was playing. With the capabilities that he had; he was the complete box-to-box midfielder.”
England's Shaun Wright-Phillips celebrates his goal with Steven Gerrard during the International Friendly match at Wembley Stadium, London. Sean Dempsey/PA Archive/PA ImagesGerrard and Wright-Phillips played together in 24 matches for England, partnering for a goal in one of them.
While he came up against the Liverpool legend more often than he played with him, Wright-Phillips knew just how good Gerrard was both on attack and defence.
“He was a hard man when he needed to be,” Wright-Phillips said. “He put those little nasty tackles in, as I know because I have been on the receiving end of them.
“He also had the quality to give you the ball anywhere you want. From your box-to-box midfielder, he also scored some massively important goals.”
Wright-Phillips first joined up with Gerrard in the England squad in 2004, with the midfielder making an immediate impression on the then-23-year-old.
“He was the guy that, when I went on my first England trip, he was the first person to actually hit the ball into me that made me think ‘Ok, I need to be on my A-game all the time’,” Wright-Phillips said.
“All of the passes are coming in like that; he just played at the same level every day, regardless of whether it was training or a match.
“The ball was coming in hard, sometimes it could be bouncing, or it could be a daisy-cutter, but it is coming in quick enough so that it can’t be intercepted.
“I needed to be on my A-game to be able to control it and go the direction that I want so that I don’t mess up an attack. You always had to concentrate with him around.”
Shaun Wright-Phillips was speaking to our exclusive OTB Sports UEFA Champions League Final Preview show in association with Pepsi Max, who are Proud Sponsors of The UEFA Champions League. Pepsi Max – Maximum Taste. No Sugar #ForTheLoveOfIt
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