IT’S A REALITY CZECH
Gerrard: We must hit a peak to finish off Slavia
DARING to dream is not an issue for Steven Gerrard. For all at Rangers, imagining a scenario in which their historic Premiership title triumph is joined by more glory in the Europa League can be a healthy form of motivation.
The Ibrox manager is very clear, however, about the immediate reality confronting his side. He argues that Rangers will have to hit a peak in their season simply to get beyond Slavia Prague in next week’s last-16 second leg. There is no chance of him underestimating the Czechs.
Elements of the 1-1 draw in Prague on Thursday night explained why. Slavia dominated the opening stages in the Sinobo Stadium, forcing Rangers to dig deep.
An equaliser from Filip Helander provided a foothold before the break. Then came a muchimproved second-half team display crowned by that incredible Allan McGregor save to preserve a draw in the 90th minute.
It’s left Rangers in a decent position. No question. But Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City drew in Prague in the previous round, only to be beaten 2-0 at home by Slavia. This job isn’t even half-done yet.
That was a point Gerrard was keen to stress when asked if he could allow himself to dream about a Europa League run that already includes 12 unbeaten matches.
‘One hundred per cent we’ll dream,’ said the Ibrox boss. ‘We’ve been dreaming since we qualified. There’s no harm in dreaming.
‘But, at the same time, you’ve got to have respect for the opposition. You’ve got to realise the challenge and what’s coming up against you.
‘This is a side who has gone away to a Premier League team and won comfortably, so in no way, shape or form can we get carried away.
‘It’s always nice to dream but we probably have to find our biggest performance of the season at Ibrox to get this done.’
Rangers have been imperious on home soil this term. Every Premiership game at Ibrox has been won, with only two goals conceded over the entire process. In the Europa League, Benfica are the only team to have left with a draw. Galatasaray, Lech Poznan, Standard Liege and Royal Antwerp all succumbed to defeat.
‘Slavia are a real good team, a real powerful team,’ added Gerrard (right). ‘They are effective, they play vertical. We knew they weren’t going to kill us from a technical point of view. But we knew we’d have to match them physically in terms of their running power.
‘We managed to do that after the opening stages of the game. But in no way is this game over or are we in any way, shape or form favourites.
‘I think this tie sits 50-50 and it’s a real exciting one to look forward to at Ibrox.’
A weekend without a domestic match gives the Rangers manager a chance to prepare in detail. It also might help increase the personnel available.
While captain James Tavernier won’t make it, Ryan Jack — albeit ‘still a doubt’ — could have a chance of recovering from a calf injury. Tavernier’s absence should mean another appearance for Nathan Patterson in the second leg. Prior to Prague, the 19-yearold’s only previous Europa League start came in the group stage dead rubber against Lech Poznan in Poland. Slavia provided a very different test.
Patterson came through a couple of uncertain moments in the first half to produce a strong display. Gerrard was delighted with the youngster’s contribution and viewed it as a pivotal moment in his Rangers career.
‘He was outstanding,’ said the Ibrox boss. ‘I think he has become a man.
‘This was probably the biggest game of his career. In fact, it is for sure. He has had a real big few weeks emotionally and he has stepped into the captain’s position and played with maturity. ‘He has a massive future ahead of him and we just need to keep guiding him, shaping him and improving him. We have got a player here, I think.’ Patterson was among five Rangers players who breached Covid regulations by attending a house party last month. All were fined by the club and will face an SFA disciplinary hearing on March 25. The timing of it means Patterson could be given an Old Firm debut on March 21 — providing the Scottish Government lets the game go ahead — before facing a potentially lengthy ban.
Gerrard has given all the players involved in the Covid controversy a second chance.
In Patterson’s case, he is hugely positive about the potential he possesses.
‘I think you’ve seen the moves I’ve made in terms of the squad,’ said Gerrard.
‘I moved two or three full-backs on because I had big confidence in Calvin Bassey and also Nathan Patterson.
‘We decided not to extend Jon Flanagan and moved Matt Polster on. And that was because we knew that we had to make room for Nathan.
‘There are only so many days you can spend in the academy and only so many games you can play well in before you need to make the next step.
‘The club have rewarded him on a couple of occasions with contracts, so I think we’ve shown in the past the confidence and belief we have in the kid.
‘Now he just needs to keep growing and learning. We want him to become a real elite player and, more importantly, a full-back for his country and club.
‘It’s an exciting future for Nathan. He’s young and he just needs to be looked after in the right way. He’s in the right place.’
This is a side who have gone away to a Premier League team and won