Berger 'to quit' international football

By Craig McWalter
March 19 2002

Patrik Berger has decided to quit international football so he can concentrate on his Liverpool career, according to reports in the Czech Republic. Read on....

Berger, 28, says he wants to have more time with his family.

And he adds that he wants to help Liverpool to more domestic and European glory.

"I need to concentrate on playing for Liverpool in all four fronts - the league, two English cups and the Champions League.

"My children are growing up and slipping through my fingers - I want to spend more time with them. I also need some time off to relax," he told Czech daily Mlada Fronta Dnes.

Berger also said he has been adversely affected by the "bad atmosphere in the national team" after their failure to qualify for the World Cup.

He continued: "I am leaving only a very small backdoor open, perhaps a 10 per cent chance, that I would play for the national team ever again.

"But otherwise I have decided to quit when the season finishes."

When asked what could change his mind, he replied: "Actually nothing. There are people trying to convince me to change my mind but I have my own views."

National coach Karel Brueckner said the news was "absurd" and slammed Berger for telling a newspaper he was quitting before breaking the news to his coach.

He added: "He should remember where he grew up, which he has forgotten already. He has opted for a comfortable life.

"Instead of labouring away on the national team, he has decided only to play for the club and take big money. I can see similar trends in (Tomas) Repka, (Vladimir) Smicer and others."

Berger wants to play for several more years, and end his career at Anfield. "I want to play football for another four years and most of all here in Liverpool. My contract runs out in summer 2003 and I want to extend it," he said