Milner: I don’t want to have any regrets
As Liverpool prepare for a potentially season-defining double-header that begins with tonight's clash with FC Augsburg in the Europa League, James Milner has underlined his desire to round off his career without any regrets.
The Reds could move one step closer to claiming their first European honour since 2005 when they face Markus Weinzierl's men in the second leg of a last-32 tie at Anfield this evening.
Meanwhile, the opportunity to pick up a silverware for the first time under Jürgen Klopp awaits on Sunday, in the form of a trip to Wembley to take on Manchester City in the Capital One Cup final.
Milner's experience will no doubt be crucial as Liverpool aim to add to their already packed trophy cabinet this term, and he is ready to give his all for that cause.
"The amount of hard work you put in, on the days when it is [raining] and freezing, the hours in the gym, the days when you have come off and know you have had a poor game and lost," he told the Daily Mail.
"The moments when you win a trophy or achieve something — they are few and far between. You have to enjoy them when they come. You don’t want any regrets. Hopefully I have still got a few years left.
"You are a long time retired. I don’t want to sit there when that happens and think, 'Oh, I wish I had done that better'. I just think everything I can do, that is always the way that I have been. I don’t want to have any regrets.
"It is so difficult at this level. I have seen so many top players with potential come through and not quite make it because the mentality wasn’t right. I’ve seen others get through because they had the mentality, even if they didn’t have the ability."
The 30-year-old comes up against the team he left last summer to make the switch to Anfield in the weekend's showpiece fixture, and judgements about the merits of his decision are sure to be made on the result.
However, Milner insists he is happy either way, and is delighted to have taken up the chance to join the Reds.
"I am coming to the part of my career where I want to play more football," he added.
"I was fortunate enough to win everything at City. They hadn’t won anything for such a long time. I wanted to go there and help them achieve success and we managed to do that.
"Liverpool has had such an amazing history but I would like to be a part of winning trophies here. I can see that happening."