Rafa Benitez has offered a unique insight into the driven nature of his skipper Steven Gerrard, which he believes makes the midfielder one of the best in the world.
The Liverpool manager revealed that Gerrard, even after playing at the very top for the past decade, and is still desperate to learn and take his game to the next level, and analyses his performances in microscopic detail.
The England international is considered to be at the peak of his craft as he approaches his 30th birthday, and could be forgiven for believing that he has nothing left to take on board.
But Benitez has illustrated the depth of passion, and incredible desire that his captain has, with an example of how he continually strives to add more dimensions to his play.
"Gerrard is a player who is always asking how he can improve, and that is a fundamental part of him - which is a huge benefit as a manager," Benitez explained.
"Even at the level he has reached, he knows that it's never over, he never stops wanting to learn. It is a part of his personality that he wants to work so hard."
Benitez is a perfectionist who always believes that there is a way to improve, and he admires the drive within his captain that makes him the same way.
And the Liverpool boss offered an example of that incredibly driven nature, which saw Gerrard this week making a round trip from London to ensure that he received the full data from his last performance before heading off on England duty.
"Let me tell you something - he left this week with the English national side, but before heading off he picked up a DVD, prepared by the person in charge of match analysis at the club," Benitez explained.
"It's a DVD of his strong points and his weaknesses, of his qualities and his faults, so he can make use of these few days on international duty and watch it before playing with the national side.
"When he left the team base in London, he went straight to the Liverpool training ground to get the DVD before leaving because he was very interested in the idea of analysing his match and trying to correct his mistakes.
"Then he wanted to go over it with me. We actually spoke on the phone on Wednesday, because he was in a hurry for us to talk about what he saw on the DVD and how he could benefit from it. That shows you how the desire is a fundamental part of him."
The Liverpool manager revealed that Gerrard, even after playing at the very top for the past decade, and is still desperate to learn and take his game to the next level, and analyses his performances in microscopic detail.
The England international is considered to be at the peak of his craft as he approaches his 30th birthday, and could be forgiven for believing that he has nothing left to take on board.
But Benitez has illustrated the depth of passion, and incredible desire that his captain has, with an example of how he continually strives to add more dimensions to his play.
"Gerrard is a player who is always asking how he can improve, and that is a fundamental part of him - which is a huge benefit as a manager," Benitez explained.
"Even at the level he has reached, he knows that it's never over, he never stops wanting to learn. It is a part of his personality that he wants to work so hard."
Benitez is a perfectionist who always believes that there is a way to improve, and he admires the drive within his captain that makes him the same way.
And the Liverpool boss offered an example of that incredibly driven nature, which saw Gerrard this week making a round trip from London to ensure that he received the full data from his last performance before heading off on England duty.
"Let me tell you something - he left this week with the English national side, but before heading off he picked up a DVD, prepared by the person in charge of match analysis at the club," Benitez explained.
"It's a DVD of his strong points and his weaknesses, of his qualities and his faults, so he can make use of these few days on international duty and watch it before playing with the national side.
"When he left the team base in London, he went straight to the Liverpool training ground to get the DVD before leaving because he was very interested in the idea of analysing his match and trying to correct his mistakes.
"Then he wanted to go over it with me. We actually spoke on the phone on Wednesday, because he was in a hurry for us to talk about what he saw on the DVD and how he could benefit from it. That shows you how the desire is a fundamental part of him."
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