John Arne Riise has hit back at El Hadji Diouf after the former striker claimed that Steven Gerrard was afraid of him.
Gerrard, 36, retired from professional football on Thursday and while most of the footballing world paid tribute to the former Liverpool captain, Diouf slammed the iconic midfielder, saying he doesn’t respect the ex-England star.
Diouf told SFR Sport (via Goal): “When I arrived, I showed him that he was nothing. I asked him, ‘What great competition have you played and where do people remember you?’ It wasn’t [Zinedine] Zidane.
“The player, I respect him. He’s a great player. But the man and the person not. I let him know.
“For me, he was a player like everyone else. He had to keep up well, and play as he knew how to do, but don’t go to the coach to report what happens in the dressing room.”
However, Riise, who spent seven years playing alongside Gerrard, winning the Champions League in 2005, has leapt to the defence of his former captain on Twitter.
Diouf talking again 🙈Zzzzz.. Like Gerrard was afraid of looking into his eyes and talking to him😂Yeah good one dude. 50/50 tackle please
— John Arne Riise (@JARiiseOfficial) November 25, 2016
Gerrard retired from professional football following a glittering career, winning the Champions League, two FA Cups and the League Cup. The 36-year-old came close to winning the Premier League on three occasions, with the 2013/14 campaign his closest chance of capturing the title.
Meanwhile, according to the Telegraph, Gerrard is poised to make a return to Liverpool and will work with the club’s academy coaching staff.
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