Standards and deliver
Gerrard tells his players to maintain the levels they have reached this season and secure qualification
for the last 32 with a game to spare but Gerrard wants to win the group, which means there will be no easing up against Lech Poznan next week even if qualification is secured tonight.
But he does concede that psychologically there would be an advantage to his players if they were to travel to Poland next week in the knowledge that their primary objective – in Europe at any rate – had been achieved.
He added: “That’s the idea and the plan (qualification with a game to spare) that we’re looking to achieve. Any small marginal gains that you can give yourself and the group, you’ve always got to try to achieve them.
“We’re on an unbeaten run we want to try to protect and continue and we know Standard have got to come here and try to win the game.
“So we have to be aware of that and that will certainly play some part in our game plan, knowing that they’re in a more desperate situation than us.
“So it’s a very interesting game and one we’re all looking forward to.
“I’d expect them to play a back five but I’ve seen them play with a back four before.
“We also know that Merveille Bokadi , who plays in the middle of the back three, likes to step into midfield and it almost becomes a four when he becomes a bit adventurous.
“So we know a lot about this team in terms of what they do and systems and formations.
“They played a back five a ga i n s t Anderlecht at the weekend but it’s a case of seeing what team they decide. If I were a betting man, which I’m not, I’d assume they’d go for a back five again. “It’ll be a difficult game but we’re at home. We’re in a good place and confidence and belief are really high at the moment.” It has been a big week off the field as well, with former chairman Dave King’s announcement that he plans to sell his 20 per cent stake in Rangers to the Club 1872 fans’ group. If it can raise the £ 13million King is looking for, the organisation would be Gers biggest single shareholder. How that situation will be greeted by the rest of the current board remains to be seen because it ha s no t responded to King ’s announcement. And yesterday Gerrard maintained a diplomatic stance on the issue.
He said: “I don’t think much changes for me in terms of the dynamics and how things work.
“Obviously Dave stepped aside some time ago.
“My relationship with Dave is really strong, we are still in constant dialogue with Dave although what I will say is yesterday’s news was new to me. I didn’t have any idea that was going to break.
“So I haven’t had time to read up about it or educate myself if you like on what could happen in the short, medium or long-term.
“I suppose it is a positive from what I’ve heard so far in terms of the fans getting closer and giving them more ownership if you like.
“But I will leave that to the suits and the businessmen to do the right thing by Rangers.
“For me on a daily basis nothing really changes but I’m sure when I have future chats with Ross ( Wilson, sporting director) and Stewart (Robertson, managing director) and the board, I will be brought up to speed with exactly what is going on in the short, medium and long-term.”
In the meantime, he goes on setting standards. And tonight, he hopes, beating Standard.