Goal drought at 10th go - just like he did
said of Gerrard’s prize assets. He expects that to change, especially for key men such as Niko Katic and Ryan Jack, when the Ibrox side finally get their hands on some silverware. Gerrard said: “We’re definitely a bet ter team and group now compared to the one that went to Parkhead a year ago for the first Old Firm game. “The mentality has changed. This is a group of players with confidence and belief and we’ve got better players in the door. “We’ve experienced beating Celtic on a couple of occasions – and we have even gone close to beating them at Parkhead. “The belief has definitely changed but Celtic are in a good place as well. They’re a fantastic team with good players. “We know they’re the team to beat but if we find a performance close to our maximum, any team that so late to level the match. But very quickly the goal became irrelevant as we started to learn of the horror of what had happened at Stairway 13.
“Morelos will be full of confidence after that brilliant winner against Legia Warsaw on Thursday night.
“It was such an important goal for the club, taking them into the Europa League group phase.
“So he’s scoring big goals and comes to Ibrox will find it really tough to beat us.
“It’s difficult to predict if we’re within touching distance of anything because the competition is tough.
“The hardest part is getting over the line. It’s tough to win but I do get a different feeling from this group.
“So far, the evidence is good but we’re not in a position to pat ourselves on the back.
“Of course, we’re due credit for qualifying for the Europa League two years in a row but there’s a long way to go.
“The next step is, can we go and win? That’s the hardest part.
“Should our players be talked about in the same breath as some of theirs?
“To be respectful, they have won things and they have Champions League experience.
“We need to push to improve and hopefully in the near future we get the chance to win and people’s opinions of my own players will it would be a great time to get another one.
“Like me, this could be his moment in an Old Firm derby after nine previous attempts.
“I think he has scored against every other team in Scotland apart from Celtic so he will be desperate to do it.”
Morelos has netted 58 goals in 102 games but Stein reckons the tally could have been even higher if the Colombian’s change. In terms of my confidence in them, I know what they’re worth.
“At the moment they’re priceless because I need them all to stay here.”
Gerrard’s players will also want their manager to be at Ibrox for as long as possible.
He is just over a year into a four-year deal – and Gerrard is adamant there’s nowhere he would rather be.
Tha t b e g s t he question: Would he be willing to extend his stay in Glasgow?
He said: “I’m happy here. I don’t want to be anywhere else. I’m loving this role and proud to be in it.
“It’s not something I’ve thought about yet. I’ve got just shy of three years left on my contract.
“That won’t be my decision, my call. Dave King is my boss so every time he comes to talk to me, of course, I’ll listen. In terms of contracts, I make decisions on players. I don’t make them on my own.” discipline had been better. The Ibrox striker copped five red cards last season – although one was reduced to a yellow.
But Stein admits he was a hot-head too as he was sent off twice in his first season at Ibrox and regularly booked when cautions were more sparingly issued by refs.
He said: “Alfredo is hotheaded and we have all seen how that can negatively impact the team. But I can’t criticise him for that because I was exactly the same – maybe worse!
“I used to get ordered to calm down and to curb my aggression.
“The management were always on at me.
“But if you take that out of his game, Morelos might not be the same player.
“It gave me an edge when I played and I think it’s the same for Morelos. He will have a huge role to play today.”