Learning to live with Owenmania

By Paul Walker of the "Press Association" 12/8/98

Michael Owen has vowed to get better and continue his terror campaign against defenders.

But you would expect him to say that, wouldn't you! At 18 but with a maturity of a footballer 10 years older, Owen has put behind him World Cup glory and focused on the next job in hand.

Talk of £30m transfers, vast wealth from commercial activities and being the next Ronaldo, just wash over the clean-cut kid who captivated a nation this summer.

He has come to terms with, if not enjoying much, his new life in the glare of the spotlight. You know from witnessing his astonishing capabilities to handle the massive changes in his life, that he will cope far better than most with the pressures of a soccer world that will never be the same again.

But because he has the family support, because Liverpool will protect him, Owen will be able to channel his energies into doing what he says he wants...to improve his game and polish the God-given talents that have made him England and Anfield's glittering hope for the future.

Owenmania will continue to sweep the country, even more so when the Premiership starts up again, but the Chester- born lad is determined to concentrate on football, and football alone.

He said: "I don't really interest myself too much in the commercial side of things. I have other people doing that side of the work for me.

"I concentrate on my football. That is what I am paid to do and that is what I want to do. I don't want to be messing around with commercial things when my main job is a footballer.

"Obviously there will be some engagements that you have to do, but I won't be doing things every day of the week."

How he handled things in Dublin during pre-season proved an interesting eye-opener to his character.

This time last year he was a YTS kid with one league game behind him. Now he has taken the World Cup finals by storm and is a hot property.

Carlsberg desperately wanted him to help them promote the recent tournament in Dublin, and Owen accepted the responsibility without question. Other top stars would have shrugged and made their excuses.

Marcelo Salas didn't turn up when asked to do his bit, but Owen realised that his presence was gold to the promoters and helped with great politeness and confidence.

All part of the job. He knows he's a commodity and he understands the commitment he has to make to his industry.

But he knows it's his football that has got him to this elevated level, and it's football that must come first. And winning something with Liverpool.

"My second full season is coming up and the first one wasn't as successful as it could have been. I want to change that.

"Everyone in the team wants to win things and that means the title. Everyone wants medals and I am just the same.

"There is no better way to do that than with the title, and no better club to do that with that Liverpool.

"Maybe it's going to be more difficult for me with more attention coming my way from defenders. But as defenders do that I am also going to be improving as a player myself.

"I am still only 18 so I can improve in lots of ways. Hopefully the people looking to stop me might still not be able to do much."

You just knew he would say that and they must be chilling words for Premiership defenders to here. He caused them enough trouble last season with his blinding pace and finishing ability and he can only get better.

And deep down he has re-inforced his remarkable confidence with those displays in France. He knows he can handle the very best.

He said: "I did all right in the World Cup. I wanted to do it for myself and to prove to myself that I could do it at the highest level.

"Hopefully there are not too many people around who are going to say to me 'you can't do it at the top level.'

"I know I did myself justice and now I'm looking forward to the next one. But first there is next season with Liverpool."

Premiership defenders have been warned, the best of Owen is still definitely to come!

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