Slovakia defender speaks of pride as he approaches seventh anniversary at Anfield
Thursday 9 October 2014 17:00, UK
Martin Skrtel admits it took him several weeks to get over the heartache of Liverpool’s title collapse at the end of last season.
The Slovakia defender played in all-but-two of the club’s Premier League games last year and enjoyed a significant role in guiding to them top of the table with three games to play, only to win just one of the last three to allow Manchester City to take the trophy.
Skrtel believes Brendan Rodgers’ side can take pride from their achievements last season, but admits it was difficult to come to terms with the disappointment at the start of the summer.
Speaking in his native Slovakia ahead of the clash with Spain, he told Sky Sports: “It was very disappointing because we’d been leading the league and fighting for the first place and lost it at the end of the season – the last three games of the season.
“It took me two or three weeks after the season, thinking about that. It was in my head and I was trying to find the reasons why it happened.
“After that, looking back I think if somebody told us before the season we could finish second it would be a great result for us.
“At the end of the day I think it was a successful season for us.”
Skrtel was signed by Rafael Benitez for Liverpool from Zenit St Petersburg in January 2008 and has now made more than 250 appearances for the club.
The central defender says he is proud to have been a mainstay at Anfield throughout that time and is aiming to hold on to his place in the team, despite competition from the likes of Mamadou Sakho, Kolo Toure and Dejan Lovren
“To be honest, when I signed the contract for Liverpool I didn’t think and believe I would stay there for such a long time,” Skrtel added.
“It’s seven years there and I’ve enjoyed that. Now Liverpool is like my second home and we’ll see how long or how many more years I’ll stay there.”
Watch Skrtel's Slovakia take on Spain live on Sky Sports 5 from 7pm on Thursday night.
