Former Liverpool scout Alex Miller has given an interesting interview to Glenn Price in which he’s described some of the players we missed out on during Gerard Houllier’s reign.
The Frenchman won trophies during his tenure, including five in one calendar year in 2001, but like the men that have followed him, couldn’t secure Premier League glory.
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Miller has claimed that he tried to approach John Terry back in 2003, just before Roman Abramovich arrived with his billions, but nothing came of it once the Russian Revolution began in west London.
“I tried to get John Terry to come,” Miller told ESPN FC .
“It (the top four challenge) went to the final day and they beat us at Stamford Bridge. After the game I went to speak to John Terry to try and get him.
“How I did it was, I went up to him in the corridor and asked him for his autograph. He said yes. As he was signing it I said: ‘Could you put in your mobile phone number? Gerard Houllier would like to talk to you.’
“He put his agent’s number and said to talk to him. Gerard Houllier spoke to his agent on the bus. I think he just used us to get more money out of Chelsea.”
Miller came close to Peter Cech, too, who despite his current woes, is arguably the best keeper in the history of the Premier League.
During his Chelsea pomp, he was practically unbeatable.
Houllier however preferred an Englishman, and bought Chris Kirkland instead!
“I also had Petr Cech,” Millner continued. “But at that moment in time we were trying to sign Kirkland. I went to a game to watch Milan Baros and Petr Cech was making his debut.
“I then went to Argentina, I think it was in 2001, the Under-20 World Cup. You could have got him for a song.
“He was with Chmel Blsany and then he moved to Sparta Prague and then he moved to France [signing for Rennes].”
During Cech’s best years, we had Pepe Reina, so had an elite stopper ourselves, in fairness.
But if we’d have stolen Terry, who for many years was probably the best centre-back on the planet, we’d have been in an incredible position!
We’ll add these two to the very long list of ‘players that got away’…