Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Premier League midfielder Gareth Barry reflects on what could have been in his career if had signed for Liverpool , as well as his Premier League appearance record which has since been broken by James Milner.
The former league winner with Man City has given his perspective on his former clubs court saga, what it was like when he moved to the club and offers some insight into what it was like being a teammate of the enigmatic Mario Balotelli.
Elsewhere Milner offered his thoughts on the if Arsenal can outlast City in the title race, if either team can win the Champions League and if Declan Rice is a genuine Ballon d'Or contender.
Career Reflections
Liverpool Links
I do think about what would have happened if I had joined Liverpool , and that's a question I get asked a lot. A load of Liverpool fans around the world come up to me and mention what might have been. But you back yourself, and I'd have liked to have thought I'd have gone into Liverpool and improved the team and improved where they were at that period of time. They weren't the Liverpool of the last few years; they were struggling down in sort of higher to mid-table positions, looking to get back into the Champions League on a regular basis.
I loved playing with Steven Gerrard for England . That was one of the reasons, I'm sure, Rafa Benítez was looking at me. We had a good relationship. Things sometimes happen for a reason, don't they? It didn't happen. But yes, I would still sit here today and like to think I would have gone in and had a good time at Liverpool , but it didn't happen.
Premier League Appearance Record
When I broke the record, I was asked how I was feeling. And I said at the time, I think the amount of starts I had in those appearances were what I was most proud of because it was just the way I worked from Monday to Friday.
I was just desperate to be in that starting 11 every Saturday. And I was lucky enough that when I wasn't guaranteed first-team football, my mentality was I'd rather go and be playing somewhere else rather than sitting on the bench. I could have maybe sat at Man City and played 15, 20 games rather than 38 and won a couple more trophies. But for me, I just loved playing, starting football games.
The minutes, the starts, I think it will be tough, especially for an outfield player. You might get a goalkeeper that gets a long career from a young kid, but could stay around for a long period of time. Yeah, going back to James Milner , I can only speak highly of him. People have said about the minutes, and if maybe it's knocked him down a bit, but he is an incredible professional to be playing in the Premier League for so long. It’s unbelievable.
Man City
Man City’s Saga
The charges are frustrating, being an ex- Man City player as well. There are talks about stuff going back to when I was playing at the club, which was a long, long time ago. Pep Guardiola himself has said if the club had done anything wrong, he doesn't think he wants to be part of it. He's rightly said that if they have done it, then you face the consequences.
Even as an ex-player, if you broke the rules, there should be a fine or the exact same punishment as any other club if they were to do the same. So that should be standard sort of stuff for me.
Moving To City
My initial move to Man City was pretty unsettling for me because there was a lot going on at the club. I'd left a really settled club at Villa , you know, a settled team, and I was captain, so I knew exactly where I was. But at the age I was, it was sort of the right time for me to make the next move. I learned a lot from the first six months going in with Mark Hughes at Man City and Roberto Mancini eventually coming in.
The turnover of players was, as a player in the dressing room that's just joined, really unsettling. But Mancini got a fast grip of the change room and brought a few extra players in. It wasn't too long before we sort of gelled in as a better team and club. The fans, I've spoken about before, were really patient in that period of time because there was a lot of pressure from the money being spent that we should be doing it overnight, but that just doesn't happen. And Mancini , to be fair to him, got the right players in, and we got a settled squad and eventually delivered some trophies for the fans.
Mario Balotelli
I think he's as mad as people think he is, to be honest. Back in the day, I'd probably say he was young and a bit immature, but it seemed to follow him around into his late 20s. You can't use youth as an excuse! There are plenty of stories, and just spending three years with Mario , it was great fun to be around.
Fighting with his players, fighting with Mancini , it was pretty much day-to-day stuff. The main one was definitely the fireworks incident. He had the firework incident, I think it was the day before the Man Utd game. Everyone read it in the papers the next morning, thinking he's probably not going to be in the squad, and Mancini ends up starting him. Then he goes and scores. That was just Mario to a T, and the famous goal celebration with the T-shirt he made up underneath. Nobody knew he had that top ready to go, but that was just Mario.
Premier League Title Race
Title Race
I think there are still going to be a couple of twists and turns. The League Cup final , for me, was a huge statement from Man City . The difference between the two teams on that occasion looked massive. You'd be surprised how far Arsenal are away, based on that one performance, but that's all it is, really, one game. However, that result will give City good belief and momentum, especially when they play Arsenal at the Etihad .
Going back to my own experience, I think we were in a similar position. We had to play Man United at home when there was an eight-point difference with six games to go. I've always said, at the start of the season and mid-season when Arsenal were looking good, that if Man City are in and around the business end of the season, with the manager and the experience they've got in the dressing room, I wouldn't be surprised if they can overturn the deficit.
So, as an ex- Man City player, I'm hoping they can. From a neutral perspective, I'm sure they possibly want Arsenal to win it, but who knows? City could win their last eight games. That's what they do, Pep Guardiola seems to finish the season so strongly, getting his team exactly right for these moments. As I said, the League Cup final was really impressive, especially the second half, because it was just relentless pressure, and the teams looked miles apart on that day.
City's Edge
In the Premier League , being out of the Champions League is going to help Man City. They're focusing on the league a lot more now than Arsenal , who are still involved in the Champions League . So that's another positive for Man City .
Obviously, to play them at home, and if Arsenal seems to drop a point or two before then, then it's definitely going to be a close game. I can see the title race going right down to the wire, which is what we want to see as neutrals as well.
Champions League
Champions League
In the last round, PSG did look really good, back to the form of last year. They’ve grown into it and look back to their best. I think Arsenal and PSG are the two that I fancy possibly going all the way.
Winning the title would massively take the pressure off Arsenal , and they'd probably go into that game feeling a lot better about themselves and have a much better chance of winning it. Arsenal vs PSG would be a tough final, but I think PSG they've got players that are made for those big, big games, so I'd probably edge towards them.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s Midfield
Arsenal’s midfield is why they’re still favourites to win the league, and that's why they are where they are. They've got the best squad, great depth. Mikel Arteta has made some really good signings there to strengthen them, and the players that have been there have improved under him as well.
That midfield, he does mix it up now and again. Players like Declan Rice are so consistent, you know exactly what you're going to get. And for me, he's one of the best players in the world at the moment. Hopefully, he can continue that with England in the World Cup . It could be an unbelievable year for him.
Ballon d'Or Rice?
I definitely think Declan Rice is in the Ballon d’Or running. For me, he's the player of the year in the Premier League , the most consistent. He's been asked to play that eight-role; he can play both six and eight. His set pieces are top draw.
I think all round, he's probably one of the best players in the world. So, he definitely has a right to a conversation. And why not? If you're winning stuff with your club and then having great World Cups , why not?
Bet on Football Odds at BOYLE Sports
Prices are subject to fluctuation.
Remember, Always Gamble Responsibly.
