YOU’RE NOT FIT TO WEAR GERSEYS
STEVEN GERRARD has told his Rangers players they need to shape up after admitting they were left flagging by a fitter Celtic last season.
The Light Blues gaffer delivered his damning assessment as he touched down in Spain yesterday ahead of an intense 10-day preseason training camp. Gerrard was alarmed
at their physical state after taking in the 3-2 Old Firm defeat by Celtic after their rivals played the final 33 minutes with 10 men.
And he insists what he saw in the season’s final games reinforced his view the team wasn’t fit enough to challenge for top honours.
Now with the help of new performance head Jordan Milsom, recruited from Liverpool, the former England and Liverpool captain is looking to improve that. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers places huge emphasis on fitness.
Gerrard said: “I watched Rangers with my own eyes close up in the Old Firm game against Celtic and it was glaringly obvious Celtic were fitter and stronger on that occasion. If you want to play at the top end, fight for trophies, be in the running when the big prizes are given out and compete against the best, the first thing you have to do as a footballer is be fit.
“If the fitness is not there where do you go? It’s probably a good reason why Celtic have been quite successful.
“If you’ve got all your squad finely tuned and in that shape it will certainly help you. I’ve got a lot of confidence in Jordan who is an expert in that field.”