KOPY CAT KILLERS
Steven Gerrard prefers to shut his ears and ignore the comparisons – even if they compliment his coaching philosophy at Ibrox.
Jurgen Klopp is the master, according to Gerrard.
The Light Blues boss is embarrassed to even consider himself an apprentice and won’t stand to hear his side mentioned in the same breath as his former club.
The evidence, Strachan and others maintain, is overwhelming and was highlighted in the recent Old Firm game at Celtic Park when Rangers swept up the park and took the lead through Ryan Kent.
The move started deep in Rangers’ right-back channel before passes were pinged at breakneck speed through the midfield and out to Borna Barisic in the wide left position. Ryan Kent, supposedly a winger but played in Gerrard’s system like an inside forward, had earlier stepped infield and was perfectly positioned to fire the low pass from the Croatian full- back into the corner of Fraser Forster’s net from 15 yards.
Strachan said: “The way Rangers set up is literally Liverpool. You could close your eyes during a Liverpool match, switch channel, open your eyes again and see the same team – but playing in blue.
“Steven has taken a lot from Klopp, which is fantastic.”
It didn’t need the searing heat at Rangers’ Dubai training camp to turn Gerrard’s face red when quizzed about the influence of the Premier League champions elect. The former Anfield skipper and youth coach said: “Listen, I’m not going to sit here and pretend to be anywhere near that man (Klopp) or that team, the best in the world right now.
“There are certain aspects of us tactically and in the way we set up that, of course, I learned from being part of the Liverpool set-up.
“We’ve got nothing but admiration for the Liverpool team and manager but they’re operating on a different level to most right now.
“We do play with at tacking full-backs and a front three so there are a few similarities – but in no way, shape or form can we start thinking we’re Liverpool.
“As for that opening goal against Celtic, the players have to take the credit.
“You’ve got a left-back who is in incredible form, getting into those areas and del iver ing and showing why he’s first-choice pick for Croatia.
“Barisic showed composure to find Ryan, who we’re trying to get closer to goal to add more numbers to his game. Across the board it was a tremendous team goal.
“I’m sure come the end of the season, when the accolades are given out, it will be in the top three.
“To go from one end of the pitch and show that quality in the final third, in that arena, was fantastic.”
Gerrard has spent the last five days putting his players through their paces in a mini pre-season before they fly back to Scotland tomorrow.
Rangers are just two points behind
Comparison with Reds gives Stevie a beamer I’m not going to pretend to be anywhere near Klopp or Liverpool, the best team in the world right now. Of course, I learned from being part of
I won’t leave myself short .. my job is to protect club
eight-in-a-row champions Celtic but have a game in hand and a clutch of league matches at home in the weeks ahead.
Gerrard’s first-team squad is being feted and admired by clubs from the biggest leagues all across Europe.
But he insists that unless the money offered for the likes of Alfredo Morelos , Joe Ar ibo and Barisic is absolutely eye- popping, they will NOT be leaving.
Sporting director Ross Wilson has been charged with trimming the squad and Eros Grezda, a rare transfer market error, has already re-joined former club Osijek.
Others will follow over the next fortnight but Gerrard added: “In my last board meeting and in chats with Dave King it has never once been mentioned that we are under pressure to sell any players in the short term.
“I will be respectful to those in the squad who are looking to leave and play more football elsewhere but I won’t leave myself short.
“My job is to protect the club because we have a lot of football coming up and have already played 37 games.
“That said, the squad is too big and we can afford to let two or three players move out.
“If that gets to three or four then I might have to bring someone in.
“We went for volume in the summer because we needed it to cope with the games we had to play.
“We are now thinking we need to get more out of players already in the door, who maybe haven’t contributed as much in the first six months.
“They will feel like new signings if they come to the party.
“We also have our eyes open.
“If someone becomes available before the end of January, is affordable and would give us a better chance of success come the end of the season, don’t be surprised if we dip in.”