Homework must take priority over Gers’ Euro hopes

THE last time Rangers stopped Celtic winning 10 in a row they didn’t have the distraction of European football.

Having finished third the previous season, it was Hibs and Dundee in the UEFA Cup spots.

The only competitive break from domestic action in the 1974-75 season came in the shape of the last Texaco Cup, for clubs on both sides of the border.

And for Rangers that only involved two games after they were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by eventual losing finalists Southampton having been handed a bye to the quarter-finals.

But for Jock Wallace’s men it proved a blessing in disguise in a season where they also failed to get out of their League Cup section – over by the end of August – and fell to Aberdeen in the first hurdle of the Scottish Cup.

It meant Rangers’ sole focus was on the league as they went on to win their first title in a decade.

In a 42-game season they finished 11 points ahead of a Celtic side who played an extra nine games, as they won both domestic cup competitions, to deny their fierce rivals a 10th consecutive title.

As Steven Gerrard starts his bid to do the same he has an interest in two European competitions with the second leg of their four-month delayed Europa League last-16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen tonight.

Rangers need a minor miracle to progress, trailing 3-1 from the first leg at Ibrox.

If they do somehow score the three goals to overturn the tie it would secure a quarter-final place just a month before entering next season’s competition at the second qualifying round stage.

The fact qualifiers are single-leg ties at least reduces the number of games but in this season more than ever Europe could be a hindrance.

Gerrard the player thrived on the European stage and it’s where the Liverpool legend has excelled in his fledgling managerial career north of the border.

Their impressive performances in the last couple of seasons have put Gers back on the map on the Continent, enhanced his reputation and banked the club much-needed millions.

But the priority in this monumental season is matters at home and

They can’t afford for European football to get in the way of the league

specifically the league – and Gers can’t afford for European football to get in the way of that.

A fierce competitor, it’s not in Gerrard’s nature to concede anything and has tooled up for the battle ahead with the signings of Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten this week.

And as so many English clubs have done in the past with the Premier League their priority, rotating his squad and fielding a line-up with mainly second-choice picks could be a consideration while saving his best for the Premiership.

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