I wish nothing more than for Gerard to be at the game. I hope he is looking down and is proud of both teams
Stevie G owes so much to his mentor at Anfield and former Lyon boss Houllier
STEVEN GERRARD will have plenty on his mind at Ibrox tonight as he prepares to take on his toughest test as Rangers boss with key men injured or absent.
But he will still take a moment to let his thoughts turn to a man he credits as one of the biggest influences on his career.
Gerrard was devastated when his former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier died in December, age 73.
And it’s not lost on him the significance of Lyon’s Europa League visit to Glasgow given his old gaffer spent a spell in charge of the French big guns.
Gerrard’s career when stratospheric when the Frenchman arrived at Anfield in 1998 and he’d go on to captain Liverpool and England, winning major honours, including European ones, on the way.
Houllier’s influence didn’t end when they parted ways and Gerrard admits his former boss was still a mentor when he took his first steps into management at Ibrox in 2018.
Gerrard knows Houllier may have had divided loyalties if he was in the stands tonight but he’s sure his friend is watching and would love this Rangers side to put on a show.
The Ibrox boss said: “I’m very aware of Gerard’s career. He’s a man I’ve got a lot of admiration and respect for.
“He gave me my opportunity at Liverpool to play for the first team. It was a sad day for me when he passed and I wish for nothing more than for him to be at this game.
“The amount of education and knowledge I’ve had from that man is unbelievable, so I hope he’s watching down and really proud of both teams.”
Gerrard has stockpiled special European nights in Glasgow and wants to add another to his collection, even though he rates Lyon the strongest side his men
have faced to date.
He said: “I hope they get more and more special but the only way to do that is to get results against these big teams.
“I loved being involved in European games as a player and I’m enjoying the ride as a manager as well. As players,
coaches and managers, you can learn from every game, especially when the top managers and top teams come in and you’re pitting yourself against them. “We’ve had some incredible games, we’ve made mistakes along the way and that’s where the experience and growth comes. “The fans love it under the lights, big nights and going on our travels together. We’ve had fantastic experiences and some of the highlights I’ve enjoyed in my tenure have been on the back of European fixtures.” Gerrard won’t underestimate the scale of the task against a squad packed with quality. The Ligue 1 outfit have former Bayer Leverkusen boss Peter Bosz – who dumped Gers out of the Europa League last 16 two years ago – in charge and see themselves as a Champions League side on sabbatical from the top competition.
How does Gerrard rate the opposition? “Arguably the best,” said the 41-year-old. “A fullstrength Lyon are a Champions League team with Champions League calibre players.
“They’ve got a manager who got this job on the back of doing ever so well as Bayer Leverkusen manager. He’s been here before, he knows what we’re about.
“This is a real big test and we have to be at our best.
“We have to have a high level of focus and determination because if we don’t against these teams, we can be punished.
“But we’ve got our own confidence we can play at this level and compete. At the right time we have to show bravery.
“We’re excited but we know the size of the challenge and it’s arguably the biggest we’ve had as a group.”
Gerrard led Rangers to the round of 16 two years on the trot but wants to smash through the glass ceiling this season.
He said: “We’ve proven in the last three years we can compete at the level and we’ve grown.
“In the last two years we’ve matched our performance by getting to the last 16.
“The challenge and part of the remit to the squad at the start of the season is, ‘Can we keep impressing ourselves and try to go further than that?’.
“First and foremost, can we get out of the group?
“We’ve got more than enough in our squad, if we stay healthy, to put up a fight and get out of this group stage.
“Then you need a bit of luck in the draw as you go along but what a fantastic challenge.”
We know the size of the challenge. It is arguably the biggest we have had STEVEN GERRARD IS WELL AWARE OF LYON’S THREAT