Martin Laursen was better than me says Aston Villa folk hero McGrath

May 17 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Sunday Mercury

“But where he was better than me was his goalscoring and his leadership.

“I didn’t open my mouth, I wasn’t a bossy player. I played my own game and kept my corner of the street clean, if you like.

“Martin could shout at people and tell them what to do and I needed to be told what to do so I’m sure we would have done well together.

“We played with three at the back which made my job easier, but Martin has had to play in a two, had it a lot harder and has still done magnificently.

“I’d put Martin at least level with me.”

McGrath has sympathy for Laursen and the emotions he is going through at the moment following the tough decision to hang up his boots.

As well as boasting glowing reputations as two of Villa’s best ever defenders, the pair also have their notoriously dodgy knees in common.

While Laursen is 31 years old, McGrath was able to delay his retirement until the age of 38 by stepping down a level with Derby and Sheffield United. But although the Republic of Ireland international was determined to drain every drop out of his career, he respects Laursen for going out at the top.

“He’s only 31 and I was told when I was 29 that I had two years left so we’d have finished at the same age if I’d have quit when I was supposed to,” said McGrath.