I don’t need a team talk for Shkupi.. Pedro did that for me 12 months ago
Gerrard: No complacency this time around
PROGRES NIEDERKORN 2, Rangers 0. Steven Gerrard saw the scoreline flash across his screen and knew it was a shock of seismic proportions.
Now it is a flashing red warning light to his players as his new-look Light Blues prepare for a Europa League return a year on from that humiliation against the Luxembourg minnows.
Flop boss Pedro Caixinha’s team won the first leg of that qualifier 12 months ago before they were embarrassed in the return and Gerrard believes that defeat means the team talk for tonight’s showdown is already done.
The 38-year-old will take charge of his first competitive game at Ibrox tonight when Macedonian side Shkupi visit for the first leg of their firstround qualifier.
And the former England and Liverpool captain hopes those involved against Progres use the loss to spur them on as he looks to get a new era off to a winning start in front of an expectant sellout crowd.
Asked about the Progres debacle, Gerrard said: “I remember it coming across the yellow bar on Sky Sports News. You were like, ‘Woah, that’s not going to go down well.’
“I certainly don’t want to have that surprise on Thursday night at quarter to 11, certainly not. I hope it is in the back of their mind and I hope they are determined. They have to be.
“A club this size shouldn’t lose games of football like that. We have to show this team respect and show the competition respect.
“There are no gimmes, no walkovers. We will approach the game right and show the level of intensity and desire we have done in the friendly games. If we do I am sure we won’t have a problem.
“I have every confidence and belief in the players that they can go out and do the job. The team talk is already done, someone did that for me 12 months ago.
“I am not nervous or scared, I can’t wait to walk out there and get the game going – the lads are ready for it.
“We want the crowd to get right behind the team for the full 90 minutes and really get after that. We are at home. We have spoken about what we want to make Ibrox this year, we have spoken about standards and consistency, so I expect the team to come out firing in the early stages.
“We are not good enough at the moment to take our foot off the gas or be complacent or be enjoying ourselves. We have tons of work to do, tons of improvement, before we can be relaxed and pick and choose when we turn up.
“I’m not expecting any complacency and if I see it in any individuals, I won’t be happy. My job is to get us through to the next round and that is my priority at the moment.
“We are not sure who we are going to be facing if we progress further down the competition so there is no point putting any targets on it. We will take it one stage at a time. That was probably part of the problem last year, being drawn against the team from Luxembourg and thinking, ‘Who have we got in the next round and what is happening there?’
“All of a sudden, bang. There you go. There is the slap in the face for you.”
Gerrard won multiple major trophies during a glittering career and admitted this tournament will always be special after lifting the then UEFA Cup as part of Liverpool’s famous treble success in 2001. He scored along with his Gers assistant Gary McAllister, who was man of the match, in a thrilling 5-4 golden goal win against Alaves in Dortmund.
The Rangers boss said: “I have fantastic memories of winning it as a 20-year-old kid and I managed to get on the scoresheet in the final, which capped off a great year winning a treble.
“Lifting the trophy is a fantastic experience, it’s a huge trophy – and very heavy – so I’ll never play it down but I won’t argue that you can compare it to the Champions League, it’s a different animal.
“The competition now has got its spark, its buzz and its mojo back certainly with the winners getting access to the Champions League.
“When that wasn’t available it was playing second fiddle to the Champions League and there was a huge gap. But now it’s got a bit of a spark back.”
James Tavernier will lead Rangers into a new era after being named Gerrard’s skipper.
And the defender revealed he asked the man he is
replacing, Lee Wallace, for his blessing before he accepted the role.
Tavernier said: “It was tough for me because of Lee – Waldo has been my captain since I joined Rangers so I made sure I spoke with him first to get his blessing.
“He is there for me if I need any advice or anything, he is a top lad and said if I need any help in any areas then he is always there for me.”
Gerrard added: “James made it very clear to me in my opening chat with him that he wanted to stay at Rangers – his feelings and his love for the club and how much he was craving winning some trophies here.
“That’s exactly what I’m feeling, so we’ll work together and try to build on that relationship and that partnership. It was important the captain had been around, been through the highs and lows, I didn’t want to select someone who was pretty new.”
There is no point putting targets on it. We’ll take it one stage at a time. That was probably part of the problem last year. STEVEN GERRARD