Alfie to stay for Stevie G
Al f redo Morelos has revealed he’s desperate to stay at Rangers because he loves working with Steven Gerrard.
The Colombian was a Euro hero last week, netting the only goal in his side’s win against Osijek.
But doubts about his future have continuously been raised after interest from clubs in the Far East.
Ibrox boss Gerrard praised the 22-year-old for his impact in the first leg of the second qualifying round in Croatia.
And now Morelos has made it clear that he’s been so impressed with his new manager, he wants to stay at Ibrox.
He said: “I am very happy at Rangers and it was a joy for me to score in the Europa League.
“Having Steven Gerrard as a manager is a very motivating experience.
“I feel humbled that someone like him is my manager and is coaching me and trying to make me a better player.
“He makes demands on me each day and drives me on to do better.
“I hope I am learning all the time from having him as manager.
That came af ter conceding a staggering 12 goals in three games to Celtic in Old Firm derbies.
The Rangers fans knew it, Jamie Murphy knew it and on his arrival, Steven Gerrard knew it.
It’s fair to say, defensive solidity and resilience at the back were not the Ibrox side’s strong points last term.
They might have been top scorers in the Scottish Premiership with 76 goals but when the likes of Kilmarnock and Motherwell are shipping less than you are, it’s easy to see where you’re going wrong.
It’s early days yet for Gerrard and the new Gers regime but three straight clean sheets in the Europa League – including a gritty, stubborn display in Croatia last week – has given Murphy cause for optimism.
The former Brighton winger does not mind putting in a shift himself to help keep the back door closed.
He believes there are clear signs that, defensively, Rangers are finally tightening up under Gerrard.
With the addit ions of Al lan McGregor, Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic and Jon Flanagan, they do not look nearly as vulnerable as they did when the likes of Mark Warburton, Pedro Caixinha or Graeme Murty were in charge.
Certainly, the level of determination they showed to defend against Osijek on Thursday night has been missing for a long time.
Murphy singled out Ibrox stalwart McGregor and his former Seagulls team- mate Goldson for particular praise af ter their outstanding performances in Croatia.
He is convinced that defensive solidity means Gerrard’s men will be a tougher nut to crack this season.
The 28-year-old grew up watching Rangers teams who were notoriously difficult to beat, led by inspirational characters such as Richard Gough and Barry Ferguson.
That’s what he wants to see again at the club.
Murphy said: “It could be a little bit frustrating last season when you were either winning games 3-2 or losing them 3-2. That isn’t ideal.
“The first thing you want as a team is not to concede.
“If you do that, then you won’t lose the game.
“Of course we need to go out there to score goals and entertain.
“But we want to do that and be secure at the back at the same time.
“Defending had a big emphasis put on it when the manager came in.
“We scored the most goals in the league last season so that wasn’t the area which had to be improved. We have to keep goals out.
“We have been working hard on it as a team and having the back five we’ve got now makes things a lot easier.
“Connor was a good friend of mine at Brighton and when I heard he was coming I knew he would be a good signing for us. “He has shown that in the first few games and I am sure that he will keep it going for the rest of the campaign.
“He was unlucky not to get more opportunities at Brighton behind Shane
Duffy