“Don’t Rush MUFC Exit” – Gerrard Urges JJ Gabriel

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has advised JJ Gabriel against rushing his departure from Manchester United. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.

Warning the highly rated teenager that elite managers will not automatically grant him first-team minutes, Gerrard stated that the youngster should not expect Mourinho to bench any of his current starters for him in Spain.

Steven added that the current controversial environment surrounding JJ Gabriel could even deter potential suitors.

His words, “It’s not just in this situation. Broadly, it scares me in the game that kids can now be rushed or careers can be forced. I don’t know the details and the background in this isolated situation with JJ Gabriel but if you look at it all he’s at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

They’ve got a history and a tradition of producing fantastic players. Not just this situation, the game as a whole, these talents, they have parents, they have agents, outside influences that force and rush too soon, and it can affect a kid’s career.

It is going to add huge pressure and also if you’re another club looking into this situation you’re thinking to yourself, ‘yeah the kid is a big talent’, but do you want the baggage and the noise around it? I don’t know what’s been said or promised behind the scenes, but from the outside this stinks to me that someone is pushing, forcing and rushing it.

And I don’t think it’s going to help the kid in any way, shape or form. There will be top people behind the scenes at Manchester United but the big thing for me is, you’ve got an English coach [Michael Carrick] and an English assistant manager [Steve Holland] who will want to, when the time is right, and when they think he’s ready, protect him… but when they feel he’s ready they will play him.

As a say, I’m a big rival of Manchester United, but I’ve watched Manchester United from afar, there’s top coaches there, top people. I know Michael Carrick very well and, if this kid was ready, he’d be getting played.

Let’s use Jose Mourinho for example at Real Madrid. Even if he goes to Real Madrid now, is Jose Mourinho going to play this kid straight away? Is he going to be forced to push him? You know what these elite managers are like, they play kids when they are ready to contribute to the team.

In my opinion they need to look after the kid’s health and his care, but Manchester United can give him that, they’ve got a history of doing that. I don’t see the rush, I don’t see the panic.”