Of stars in 2005 final... but is sure Gers won’t make mistake
fourth going out at this stage of the competition. That is not, and never has been, in Gerrard’s mind, however.
“I want the last 32 and the players do,” he said. “I don’t think at a club like this you can be satisfied. “You have to keep trying to push and go as far as you can go. If it’s not to be, I will be very proud of the players, what they’ve done and the journey we’ve been on.
“We know the supporters have enjoyed the journey so far but, if you’re a winner, you want to keep pushing. The challenge to the players is can you deliver the last 32 for these supporters.” Whatever happens over the next 180 minutes of European action, and whether Rangers reach the next round or not, the signs of improvement and progress are clear at Ibrox.
This Europa League run has come just 12 months after the embarrassment of the defeat to Progres Niederkorn but there is still work to be done to establish Rangers as a proper force on the continent once again.
Gerrard said: “There is a long way to where we want to get to. There is a lot of improvement to do, individually and collectively. We are not getting carried away.
“We understand where we are compared to Villarreal. We know we are going to have to punch above our weight. But we have played at a level which people have respected this season in Europe and domestically at Ibrox.
“I don’t like to use the word ‘fortress’ for Ibrox yet, because it’s still early days. Come the end of the season, we hope we can look back on our home form and see that every single team who have come here have found it difficult.”