Gerrard is hoping for lucky No 13

STEVEN GERRARD will urge his players to seize the chance of making history tonight by becoming the first Rangers side to defeat Spanish opposition on their own soil. And the Ibrox boss feels their aerial power could be the key to kicking off Europa League Group G with an odds-defying victory over Villarreal. Tonight’s testing meeting in the Estadio de la Ceramica will be the 13th time Rangers have faced a Spanish side in an away tie, with the record showing ten defeats and two draws. The club’s most famous

achievement was, however, also recorded in Spain when Dynamo Moscow were beaten in the 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup final in Barcelona. When that history was raised with Gerrard (below) he insisted the chance to break new ground this evening would be a prime motivation for his squad.

‘The line you’ve just used is perfect for me and my team talk,’ he said. ‘With the challenges we’ve set these players, they have got over the majority of them. They have been excited by them. They don’t seem to be timid or afraid of them, this is a huge challenge.

‘Villarreal are a very good team and I think they’re in a false position in the league. They spent £70million in the summer. That should excite my players.

‘What a chance. Live on BT. Go and give it your best and see where it takes you. I believe we’ve got a chance of causing an upset. I’d love to (become the first Rangers team to beat Spanish opposition in Spain). And, I’m sure may player would, too.

‘The difficult thing is actually going out and carrying out the game plan and doing everything right individually within that. It would be some achievement.’

Rangers were unbeaten in eight qualifying matches, winning one and drawing three of the away ties en route to ending a seven-season absence from European group-stage competition.

Gerrard said that durability offered hope, but he also wants his side to use their physical stature to capitalise on set-pieces and crosses. With Alfredo Morelos suspended, Kyle Lafferty will offer additional height as a forward focal point.

‘This is a different game for us in different ways but we have to play to our strengths and look at ways we can hurt them,’ said the Rangers boss.

‘We believe we hold a size advantage. So without giving the game plan away we want to try to put a lot of crosses into their box. We want to use set-pieces as a tool as well.

‘We also want to be aggressive in a positive way to try and counter how their players are so technically gifted.

‘Of course, in terms of set-up and organisation we’ll try and be difficult to beat. But we don’t want to hang on for 90 minutes.

‘Even in the games we’ve had to hang on that’s mainly been down to us being a body down, or two bodies down.’

That was a reference to the red cards shown to Morelos and Jon Flanagan in the play-off against Russian side Ufa.

Rangers have also collected 20 bookings in their Europa League campaign to date, with Gerrard now demanding his players consider the consequences their colleagues can suffer through indiscipline.

‘I’m thinking of not using the word discipline in the team talk before the game because every time I do we seem to lose one or two players,’ he said with a wry grin.

‘It’s vitally important against top-level opposition such as Villarreal. The level will go up now, we’re playing against a fantastic team. It’s time my players respected and helped each other by remaining on the pitch as an XI, which certainly gives you a better chance.’

Rangers are fourth seeds in a group including Spartak Moscow and Rapid Vienna. Gerrard, though, will not settle simply for the satisfaction of having made it through an arduous qualification process.

‘We are delighted to be here but we’re not here to make up the numbers,’ he said. ‘We’re coming here, to Villarreal, to get a result. And I’m quietly confident we’ve got a chance of getting out of the group.

‘We have two choices here, that we come and make the numbers up, just enjoy it and tag along through the group? Or do we actually fancy it and believe in ourselves that we can go and cause a few upsets? ‘Can we perform at Ibrox, make it difficult for teams and use our atmosphere in our favour? Can we prove people wrong? Everyone expects Villarreal and Moscow to get out of the group, understandably on paper, but football doesn’t always work like that.’ Gerrard, who is without injured trio Ryan Jack, Ovie Ejaria and Gareth McAuley, is delighted that captain James Tavernier signed a contract extension until 2022 earlier this week. ‘It’s clear what he brings on the pitch,’ he said. ‘He is a very, very good attacking right-back. He contributes a lot in the final third and his game defensively has also improved. ‘He’s very well-liked and is a leader in the dressing room. He’s been here through decent times and some bad times and that experience helps me.’