Former Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness has apologized to Liverpool midfielder James Milner over a harsh comment he made about the England star during their time together with the Magpies.
Souness was Newcastle manager for two seasons between 2004 and 2006, and this time Milner was just a 19-year-old player who joined the Magpies from Leeds United.
Souness did not see the English midfielder as someone who could make the difference and did not give him much game time, with the youngster making only 13 starts in the Premier League during the 2004-05 campaign.
The Scot then sent Milner on loan to Aston Villa the following season, taking aim at the midfielder at the time.
Souness wrote in his column for the Daily Mail, “He was upset with me many years ago at Newcastle when I said that you won’t win the league with James Milners, and he took that as me saying he wasn’t good enough.
“I was trying to say that you needed men. He was only 19 at the time. I apologized to him for that, and I hope he’s forgiven me.
Milner has gone on to win the UEFA Champions League as well as the Premier League, among other trophies, with Liverpool.
James Milner, now 37, is set to leave Anfield for Brighton in a couple of weeks.
