WE’LL NEED TO RUN ON EMPTY

Gerrard doesn’t want closed-doors games but he’d prefer that to cutting season short

IN NORMAL times, Steven Gerrard would wholeheartedly sign up to the old Jock Stein quote about football being nothing without fans. Relishing and responding to the atmosphere of a stadium is a central part of his love of the game. It has driven him to attain numerous emotional highs as both a player and manager.

But these are not normal times. Not normal at all. Faced with a choice of playing games behind closed doors because of the coronavirus crisis or not being able to finish competitions at all, Gerrard would pick to fulfil fixtures inside empty arenas.

The idea of the season simply being cut short — and the possibility of arbitrary decisions being made about various outcomes — seems even worse than teams performing to a backdrop of empty seats.

Next Thursday’s Europa League last-16 second leg against Bayer Leverkusen will bring a first taste of the latter experience. The German government called for a halt on events involving more than 1,000 people, with the local authorities in North Rhine-Westfalia — the region of the country worst affected by the coronavirus — agreeing it was an appropriate course of action.

In the short-term, that might increase the advantage gained from tonight’s first-leg full house at Ibrox as Rangers take on a Bundesliga powerhouse.

Scotland, however, would be highly fortunate to avoid the kind of disruption that the coronavirus is inflicting on sport in Europe.

The SPFL and SFA are working together to monitor developments and advise clubs. As Sportsmail has reported previously, a last-resort option exists to end the SPFL season prematurely, declare Celtic champions and settle relegation based on existing league positions.

If it transpired that a succession of fan lock-outs was the only way to get the campaign concluded through events on the pitch, Gerrard would give it his approval.

‘Of course,’ he said. ‘If that’s what we’re told to do, we’ll have to do it

‘I think it would be a real big shame for everyone around Europe and the world if the league campaigns and cup competitions can’t finish because people have earned the opportunity to get to the stage where everyone is at.

‘So I don’t want to see anything finish right now. If we are told (that is) the only way to get stuff finished off and we are told to do that, we will follow.’

The 30,000-capacity BayArena will have none of its usual noise and colour when Rangers visit next week.

‘I’m not delighted about it, that’s for sure,’ insisted Gerrard. ‘Football is all about atmospheres and supporters and people getting the opportunity to go follow their team, especially when you’re at this stage of a competition.

‘I know how excited our own supporters are. For both clubs, it’s not an ideal situation but it is what it is.

‘We have all got to follow the experts in this situation and do what we’re told.

‘I’ve never played a professional game behind closed doors. I’ve obviously played in a lot of reserve games where there is very few people in the crowd.

‘I’ve also played in bounce games at Anfield — and it’s not what you look forward to.

‘Part of being a footballer is the experience of playing in great atmospheres with supporters behind you.’

Gerrard is cautious about declaring whether the closeddoors return could work in Rangers’ favour. He feels it will only matter if his side can first maximise the benefits of having 50,000 at their backs tonight.

‘First things first, we have to face Leverkusen here in front of a full house and we will analyse the next test and challenges from the final whistle, see what the score is and how the first leg went,’ he said.

‘By that time, we will have faced them up close and personal, in terms of their strengths and weaknesses.

‘But, of course, having no fans there at this level of game will have an impact. I’m sure it will. But you have to analyse that situation and come back to that question after the first leg to see where the scoreline lies.

‘I think the crowd will definitely be with us in this game. They really appreciate the work and the effort that’s gone in to get us to this stage of the tournament.

‘These were the nights that I wanted when I first came in the door and to try to bring the pride back amongst European competition.

‘The players have earned that, so I’m sure the fans are going to be right behind us — and we’re certainly going to need them.’

Asked if there was any concern about travelling to Leverkusen given the higher number of coronavirus cases in that area, Gerrard added: ‘It will only become a worry for us if our own medical people, who we trust in this situation, tell us that it’s going to be a worry or a concern.

‘That isn’t the case as of yet. We will just follow the instructions as we’re told by UEFA and our own medical team and we will do what we have to do.

‘I think it’s a concern and a worry for everyone worldwide. It seems as if it’s growing and growing. We’ll have to take it day by day. We have a fantastic medical team in place and we’ll trust UEFA entirely in terms of the protocol that we have to follow.’

Leverkusen were denied permission to train on the Ibrox pitch last night to try and protect the weather-beaten surface ahead of the match.

Gerrard apologised for that situation, but expressed hope his players can again cast off poor domestic form and peak at the sound of the Europa League anthem.

‘I think we’ll find a performance,’ said the 39-year-old. ‘I can see the boys are focused.

‘They’ve been lively in the last couple of sessions. So we all know as a group, collectively, that we’re going to have to find a performance if we’re to compete with this level of opposition.

‘Sometimes it takes opposition like this to find your best, so let’s hope that’s the case.

‘I definitely see a determination and a focus to go and put a real good, proud show on for our fans.

‘When these fans are behind us in this stadium and we can find that level, then we’re a good team. So we believe we can compete with anyone who rolls in here.’