Friday 28 April 2017 09:36, UK
Steven Gerrard will aim to eradicate a "showboating mentality" in youth football as part of his role as Liverpool's U18s coach.
Gerrard returned to Anfield as an academy coach in January following his retirement from playing in 2016 and he will replace Neil Critchley, who is to step up and assume charge of the U23s.
He turned down the chance to manage EFL League One side Milton Keynes Dons in favour of the Liverpool post, primarily because he accepts it will allow him to "make loads of mistakes" away from the glare of publicity but also because he is confident he can have a positive influence on emerging players.
"There is a showboating mentality through academies," he said. "A lot of kids think they have to do 10 lollipops or Cruyff turns to look good or stand out.
"We all love a bit of skill and talent but the other side of the game is huge. I have to try and prepare these players for careers in the game. Not all of them will play for Liverpool's first team but I feel if I can help them to compete in the other side of the game it will help their careers.
"Maybe it [showboating] comes from computer games, I don't know. There are a lot of skilful players that young players try and emulate - probably too much instead of playing to their own strengths.
"They try and model their game on players like Ronaldo whereas you have to look at yourself and say: 'What have I got? What are my strengths? How can I improve my weaknesses and become a player in my own right?'"
And he added: "I spoke to Jurgen and we agreed after a few chats that the 18s was the right age group because it still gives you a bit of a spotlight with the coverage it gets but it is a place where you can make a lot of mistakes and grow and learn.
"Every manager and coach I have spoken to has said I will make loads of mistakes, and your first job is better to be away from the cameras.
"The other offers I got [managing MK Dons], it would have been learning on the job at the deep end and I probably wasn't ready for those jobs.
"I might have been but I didn't want to take any risks, especially when there is no timescale or plan of where I want to be in a certain time, so the 18s made sense."
