Gerrard is handed a friendly warning
THE manner in which Steven Gerrard has galvanised Rangers into a credible Europa League force is not an eyebrow-raiser for Dirk Kuyt. Team-mates at Liverpool for six years, Kuyt witnessed the power of Gerrard’s driven personality at close quarters. And he always viewed the transformation from inspirational captain to motivating manager as one the 39-year-old would take very much in his stride.
Kuyt wishes Gerrard every success in his continuing Ibrox adventure. With one exception. The imminent assignment across the North Sea must be separated from the bonhomie that exists between two friends.
Having attained iconic status over two spells as a Feyenoord player, Kuyt’s loyalty to Rotterdam’s great footballing institution inevitably trumps his sincere admiration for a former colleague. He will be willing a home victory tomorrow evening.
The Dutchman was at Ibrox on matchday one in Group G when Sheyi Ojo’s strike delivered victory for Gerrard amid an atmosphere charged with poignant emotion following the death of Fernando Ricksen.
Now under the command of ex-Rangers manager Dick Advocaat after sacking Jaap Stam, Kuyt expects Feyenoord to go all out to turn the tables on home turf. On and off the pitch.
De Kuip will, he predicts, provide a red-hot welcome as Advocaat seeks to prevent Gerrard from reaching the knockout phase with a game to spare.
‘There might be a bit of revenge,’ said Kuyt, assessing Feyenoord’s mindset. ‘I saw the first game and, to be honest, Rangers deserved to win that one.
‘In Rotterdam, it will be a different game. We are talking about a key game in the group stage and it is an interesting one. We will see what happens but it is going to be exciting.
‘I was amazed by the fans at Ibrox in September. It was a memorable night in the Europa League but, of course, I wasn’t happy about the result because I am a Feyenoord man.
‘The atmosphere in the stadium was amazing and I can assure you that, in Rotterdam, it will be the same.
‘Feyenoord are a team that are developing at the moment and they have a lot of young players.
‘They have not been used to playing in Europe for a while, so they learned a lot from that match in Glasgow and took it into the next match against Porto (which they won 2-0).
‘It was a tough game for them at Ibrox but I think it will also be a tough game for Rangers when they come to Rotterdam.’
While Kuyt would never betray Feyenoord by disclosing inside knowledge, he revealed he had passed Gerrard some scouting tips on Porto ahead of Rangers’ double-header against the Portuguese giants.
Whatever was said clearly didn’t do any harm. The impressive 1-1 draw in the Estadio do Dragao was followed by a 2-0 home win that left the Ibrox outfit joint-top of a fascinating section.
‘I gave him a bit of advice about the Porto team because we always try to help each other when we can,’ said Kuyt, capped 104 times by Holland. ‘But once you get in an awkward situation, we’re professionals and we respect that.
‘That is also what Stevie is all about.
‘If you know Stevie, you know he will always prepare himself and his team very, very well in any case.
‘He will know everything about Feyenoord, like he does about Young Boys and Porto.’ Kuyt moved to Anfield from
Feyenoord in a £10million deal in 2006, forming a bond with Gerrard that still thrives through their involvement with the Liverpool Legends team. Harbouring coaching ambitions of his own, he has watched with interest ever since the former England skipper took on the challenge of reviving Rangers in June of last year. ‘He has done really well and from the first day he has been there, he has been working hard to get the club back to where they belong,’ said Kuyt, who returned to Feyenoord for a second spell between 2015 and 2017. ‘Of course I have followed him as a former team-mate and a friend. ‘I was at Ibrox for the Feyenoord match and I watched him closely and his team closely. I was impressed with the effort that the team was putting into the game and the quality on the pitch. ‘He is doing a great job and I think from here on, he will only do better. ‘It is not a surprise at all to see his impact with
Rangers because he already did that as a player.
‘He took everyone with him to get everything out of the team, to get the maximum from himself and others.
‘That was not only in the games. It was in every training session and he always wanted to be the best.
‘He doesn’t want to be the best on his own, but as a team. I think when you see him managing, he is trying to do the same.
‘He works every day to be the best and I think he is already successful. In the future, he will only be more successful.’
Sunday’s 3-1 win over Hamilton Accies at the Fountain of Youth Stadium kept Rangers level on points with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
A league title was the one prize that eluded Gerrard during his Liverpool playing career, so what does Kuyt think it would mean to him as a manager in Glasgow?
‘What it would mean to the club and the supporters, it would mean as much to him,’ said the 39-year-old, recognising the eight years Rangers have gone without major silverware.
‘He is a winner and he will try to do everything to win trophies. That is what it is all about for him.
‘He wants to be the best and only the best is good enough for him.
‘It would be a massive achievement if he could do it, not only for Steven but also for this football club.
‘It is great to see where the club was a few years ago, where they are now and how much they have improved.
‘They will keep progressing with Stevie.’