Cape Town – Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers’ decision to bench Steven Gerrard at the Santiago Bernabeu was the catalyst behind the legendary midfielder’s decision to quit the club.

Eurosport report that Steven Gerrard’s place on the bench away at Real Madrid was the reason why he decided to move on.

“When I was told I wasn’t playing, for the sake of the team and the squad and my relationship with Brendan, I took it and I accepted it,” said Gerrard in an interview on BT.

“But I sat on that bench devastated because I wanted to play so, it is one of those situations. It sort of pushed me, making a decision to move on and try something different.

“This was round about the time when I was doing a lot of thinking about what’s next for me.”

In that particular game, Rodgers opted with a three-pronged midfield lineup featuring Joe Allen, Emre Can and Lucas Leiva. Liverpool lost 1-0 and ultimately bowed out of the group stages of the competition.

The 35-year-old midfielder spent 17 seasons with Liverpool. He made over 500 league appearances (710 in total) and scored 186 goals in all competitions in the red of Liverpool.

Gerrard will join LA Galaxy in the MLS in July.