Sven ... Owen's Number One Fan!
By Nu Mad
Updated Friday, 28th September 2007
I don't think I have ever heard Sven-Goran Eriksson say a bad word about any player, and he does go 'over the top' at times. But his respect for Michael Owen is certainly genuine.
Sven-Goran Eriksson: "It is very difficult to find the kind quality Michael Owen gives you.
"There are very few like him across the whole of Europe.
"He has been important for every team he has played for and will continue to be so as long as he plays football.
"So often I have been sat on the bench thinking the team is not playing well, then, bang, after 80 minutes, there is the winning goal.
"He can score from absolutely nowhere. He moves into space at exactly the right time and while he should not score with his head, he does it, which means he is very clever because he cannot go fighting with centre-halves.
"Even sitting on the bench at Real Madrid, he always seemed to score when he came on. You just do not find players like that very easily.
"I really hope Michael gets fit and starts to play football again. That is what he loves.
"He is still only 27, so he has a lot of years left in his career but over the last 18 months or so, he has been very unlucky.
"I know him well and he is a really nice lad. I was so happy for him when he played well for both England and Newcastle recently."
