Rush said: "Imagine if Michael Owen said the following. I don't care about Liverpool qualifying for the Champions League. I'm not bothered about winning trophies. I have no interest in improving as a player any more. I'll be happy if I never win the Premiership with Liverpool.
"How do you think the Merseyside public would react? Instead, Michael has said the opposite and for some reason his ambition has been used to suggest he wants to leave Liverpool. I think the way his words have been misinterpreted is disgraceful.
"Everything he was reported to have said about his European ambitions would be echoed by everyone at Liverpool. We all want the same thing. I find it a bit odd that if someone says they want to be in the Champions League, this means they're looking for a transfer away from Liverpool.
"It's a bit early in the season to start presuming we're not going to finish in the top four. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking on the part of our rivals who would love nothing more than to see Liverpool have a bad season and Michael to leave.
"At Anfield, we believe it's only a matter of time until we are in the Champions League. What also seems to have disappointed Michael is the number of his own supporters who are so quick to jump on his back and accuse him of preparing to leave.
"It's only a minority, but I can understand his frustration and I think those fans who really value him will let him know at the next opportunity.
"I don't think I'm going too far in suggesting Michael has been a bit underappreciated by a small section of his own following. If he ever left Liverpool and played elsewhere he'd be hero-worshipped. Then a few more people would probably realised what a great thing they'd lost.
"Perhaps this lack of appreciation is because he is a local lad who has come through the ranks. It always seems to be a bit harder for local youngsters to receive the same adulation as those who are bought from elsewhere. Jamie Carragher has suffered in the same way, and it was similar in some of the teams of the past.
"I'm sure Michael will stay at Liverpool. Nothing has changed my mind since then and I was delighted to hear he's actually started negotiations.
"Michael Owen is fully committed to Liverpool and Liverpool are 100 per cent behind him. Most of the supporters are too. The one per cent who aren't should hang their heads in shame."