Emre Can admits it is an honour to be spoken in the same breath as Steven Gerrard but says he is still some way off filling the void left by the Liverpool great.
The 22-year-old German midfielder has been compared to Anfield hero Gerrard on numerous occasions and although he admits he is nowhere near the great man, he says the LA Galaxy star is someone he can continue to look up to as his career progresses,
"That's of course a big, big honour," he said of the Gerrard comparisons.
"But I say I have lot of respect for him and I am far off that level he played for Liverpool.
"I have to go my own way, be Emre Can. But I have great respect for him and still keep in touch. I met him in Los Angeles recently, and we still speak."