STEVEN GERRARD has responded to frustrations from Rangers fans over his recent departure to Aston Villa.
The Liverpool legend left Ibrox last month after Dean Smith was axed from his position at Villa Park.
Some Rangers fans criticised the move and voiced their frustrations across social media.
Gerrard can understand the anger, but he insists he had to take the chance to move to the Premier League.
He told Sky Sports: "I think the frustration always comes from the timing. I think when you do it during a season.
"I certainly respect people if they have a bit of a gripe on that. From my point of view I can't control the timing.
"When you are in my position you always wonder will the opportunity come again?
"When it was Aston Villa, to get the chance to come back to the Premier League, the size of the club, the ambition of the club, for me, the timing was not something I could think about.
"It was more about grasping the opportunity and that is what I did.
"Listen I leave with a heavy heart but I also leave with my head held high because when you sit down with a board and they set you a remit, if you don't do that, you get the sack.
"If you have a run of games where it is not accepted, you get the sack. Fans move on extremely quickly from that.
"For me it was about, for once in my life and in my career, thinking about myself and my family."
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