FROM ZERO TO HERO F
After missing first leg due to Covid breach youngster gets to celebrate for right reasons
AS Nathan Patterson wrapped tape round his ankles and prepared to enter the action, Steven Gerrard stood over him and had one final word in his ear.
It is unlikely that the message would have been “go and win us the game, son”. That is what the 19-year-old did, though. Talk about going from zero to hero.
Patterson would watch the first leg of this bizarre, barnstorming tie on his couch last Thursday night with his Rangers career hanging by a thread. A week later, he would play his part in a victory that takes Gerrard’s side into the last 16 of the Europa League.
Patterson, alongside Calvin Bassey and Bongani Zungu, who made a late appearance off the bench, was fortunate to be given a second chance after his Covid rule break, but he certainly made the most of it.
His attendance at a house party in Glasgow could have ended his Ibrox career but it may now prove to be the making of it after taking the first step, or perhaps a huge stride, along the road to redemption.
His second-half strike was the third of a weird and wonderful fixture. Alfredo Morelos opened the scoring and Ryan Kent, Borna Barisic and Cedric Itten would score after Patterson as Rangers emerged as 9-5 winners on aggregate and progressed to the next round.
The Europa League has given Gerrard some of his most memorable evenings as Rangers manager but they haven’t always been good for the heart rate or the blood pressure. Indeed, it was at this stage last term that Braga were beaten 3-2 on a wonderful night at Ibrox before victory in Portugal.
Progression to the last 16 for a second consecutive season would have been the target before a ball was kicked this term. Rangers got there once again, but they didn’t make it easy for themselves.
The 4-3 victory first time around was a roller-coaster ride of a game that was fun for the neutral but stressful for those with an affiliation. It was one where there were plenty of positives for Gerrard to take, but he couldn’t be entirely satisfied with events and the same will be said second time around.
It was evident last week that Antwerp were there to be exploited at the back and the Belgians were once again slack in their own third. Somehow, Rangers could only take advantage once during a half that ended with the scores level and their advantage overall preserved.
The finish from Morelos was clinical but the build-up was comical. Jeremy Gelin was seemingly oblivious to the threat and presence of Kent as he attempted a slack pass on the edge of the area and keeper Ortwin De Wolf found himself stranded.
Kent would pick out Morelos and skipper Ritchie De Laet couldn’t prevent the Colombian slotting home as Rangers’ record scorer in European competition added another one to his tally. It should have set Gerrard’s side on their way to a straightforward win.
The front three was looking sharp at that stage and
Morelos was leading the way. Kent had fired just wide of target early on, while Ianis Hagi should have done better with a powerful shot from a tight angle. The second goal would have won the game and the tie for Rangers, but it was Antwerp who would score it. They still needed a remarkable turn of events, but they at least had hope after the break.
Rangers have been so resolute in the Premiership this term but surprisingly flimsy at times on the continent and that failing came back to cost them. When it did, they couldn’t say they hadn’t been warned.
The first moment of concern came when Aurelio Buta fired wide of target after being picked out by Jordan Lukaku. Minutes later, the winger got his assist.
Leon Balogun was exposed at right-back and Joe Aribo couldn’t prevent Refaelov beating McGregor with a neat finish. There was another moment of concern as McGregor required a second chance to gather an effort from Pieter Gerkens.
The change at the break was the one that had to be made, but it was still a surprise. It saw the return of Patterson as he replaced Balogun and was given his shot at atonement.
Within seconds, he had taken it. A pass from Morelos sent him free and he would show real composure to beat
De Wolf and score his first goal in the most remarkable of circumstances. The 19-year-old had expressed his sorrow and contrition in an interview with RangersTV on Wednesday and the reaction of his team-mates spoke volumes. It will take some time for people to forget, but this was some way to help them begin to forgive.
That was the goal that clinched the tie for Rangers. Within minutes, they had the goal that won the game as well as Kent made it 3-1.
The build-up from Morelos was sensational once again. This was one of those nights where the Colombian was just in the mood and in the zone and he would power by Martin Hongla and set up Kent, who made no mistake from close range.
Rangers just had to see it out now but once again they were complicit in their own issues. Connor Goldson and
McGregor couldn’t deal with a ball over the top and collided into each other, leaving Didier Lamkel Ze to make it 3-2 on the night going into the final half an hour. Ze would get in behind once again but lost his composure when a goal would made Rangers think.
They need not sweat in the end. A Barisic penalty – his third in these two games – was emphatic and Itten converted from the spot with the final chance, and final goal, of this tie. Rangers’ superiority would show in the end.
These fixtures will live long in the memory for a variety of reasons. Gerrard is probably pleased to see the back of them, though, as attentions turn to the draw on Friday afternoon.
Time will tell how far Rangers can go this term. Whatever happens, they are unlikely to have a more dramatic tie than this one.
STEVEN GERRARD hailed a “sublime” showing from Alfredo Morelos as he inspired Rangers to a dramatic victory over Royal Antwerp that clinched a spot in the last 16 of the Europa League.
Rangers will take their place in the draw on Friday thanks to a 5-2 win at Ibrox that secured a 9-5 aggregate success and maintained their unbeaten run on the continent this term.
Morelos opened the scoring with a clinical finish from the edge of the penalty area and produced a stunning all-round performance as he bullied the Belgians and played a key role in a famous European win.
Nathan Patterson and Ryan Kent also netted before late penalties from Borna Barisic and Cedric Itten secured Rangers’ place in the next round and earned lavish praise from Gerrard.
Gerrard said: “In large parts and for the majority of it I thought it was high level, certainly in terms of our attacking play.
“I thought our first three goals were wonderful, the third one that Ryan scored was a fantastic team goal.
“I thought Alfredo, it was probably the strongest performance he has put in this season when you look at the all-round game.
“I thought he was unplayable, strong, held the ball up well for us and was really physical and their defenders couldn’t handle him over the course of the 90 minutes.
“I thought the support in Kent and [Ianis] Hagi was high level as well and that is probably, in terms of a front three that we have put out, the strongest performance of the season.
“I thought we looked dangerous all night. Obviously there are a few issues in terms of the goals that we will look at and try and learn from and grow from. But, in the main, really proud and pleased with the overall performance.
“I thought [Alfredo’s] performance was sublime, for sure. He had a bit of everything and if you think about what a number nine needs to give in this system and this formation, he gave everything that we asked of him.
“He is really settled off the pitch at the moment with his family, he is really happy and coming into work with a smile on his face. Tonight we certainly got the best out of him and if he can keep performing like that from now until the end of the season, it is going to be a huge season for the club.”
The dramatic ties with Antwerp will live long in the memory of supporters but the final results were the most important factors for Gerrard as Rangers reached the last 16 for the second consecutive season.
Rangers could, and should, have won by more over a remarkable 180 minutes of action and Gerrard was thrilled with the performance at Ibrox.
Gerrard said: “That is not to
mention the four from the first leg as well and it could have been many more.
“In terms of our attacking play, our style and how it looked, I am sure people will have really enjoyed watching us, more importantly our fans.
“I have certainly enjoyed watching it from the side and the players have enjoyed playing in it. Over the course of the two legs we could have scored nine and we saw that was where the opposition weakness was.
“We wanted to be very bold and we picked two very aggressive, ambitious teams to go with that and the players deserve all the plaudits that will come their way.”
Rangers are now preparing for a hugely significant run of fixtures as they await their next European opponents and look to secure their
Premiership title in the coming days.
And Gerrard is relishing the opportunity that his side have earned after another terrific showing that maintains their momentum in this historic campaign.
Gerrard said: “Look, it is about looking forward to the draw and seeing what the draw brings for us but we should certainly look forward to it with excitement and be buzzing for the draw.
“We have matched our performance from last year in terms of getting to the last 16 but we want to keep trying to impress ourselves and keep trying to go one further from a European point of view.
“Obviously we have got games before that, really important games in Livingston and St Mirren, and if we can find that level of performance I am sure we will be OK.”
JONATHAN Gould helped Wim Jansen bring an end to nine long seasons of pain and disappointment for Celtic and stop Rangers completing 10-in-a-row at the same time with an historic Scottish title triumph back in 1998.
He then saw how Martin O’Neill revitalised the Parkhead club following two years of turmoil and unrest and led them to what was at the time only the third domestic treble in their history in 2001.
So Gould knows exactly what kind of manager it takes to transform the fortunes of the Glasgow giants after difficult trophyless spells.
And he believes that Alex Neil has all of the qualities required.
The former Scotland goalkeeper, now back in New Zealand coaching at his first club Napier City Rovers, still takes a keen interest in how Celtic, where he spent five and a half years of his playing career and won six major honours, are faring.
He was desperately disappointed when his old team-mate Neil Lennon finally parted company with his boyhood heroes on Monday after seven turbulent months.
However, the 52-year-old has also been intrigued to see Neil, the former Hamilton and Norwich City boss who has been in charge at Preston North End since 2017, linked with the vacancy.
He delayed his return to Antipodes for a year so he could work with the Scot at Deepdale – and was grateful that he did so.
“I was the goalkeeping coach with Tony Pulis at West Brom in the Premier League for three years and then I did 18 months with him at Middlesbrough,” he said. “But my family and I were all set to come back to New Zealand in 2019.
“Then I got a phone call from Peter Ridsdale [the Preston owner] and Alex Neil. Alex is someone I had seen from a distance in his work at Norwich and Hamilton.
“I thought he had done a great job. I was intrigued enough to go and work with him. I had a fabulous 12 months with Alex at Preston. I really enjoyed it and loved the way he worked.”
Many famous names and internationally renowned managers have been linked with the Celtic position – including Rafa Benitez, Steve Clarke, Eddie Howe, Roberto Martinez, Dan Petrescu and David Wagner.
Supporters would not be – regardless of the success he
enjoyed at both Hamilton, who he steered back into the Premiership, and Norwich, who he took up into the Premier League via the play-off final – as excited at the appointment of Neil as they would if any of those aforementioned individuals were brought on board.
Gould, though, knows they would be getting an exceptional coach who would be undeterred by the size of the challenge he faces in the East End and undaunted by the pressure he would be under to succeed if he did replace Lennon.
“Alex’s detail, the way he prepares his teams, is impeccable,” Gould said. “I have had the privilege of working with a lot of good managers as a player and as a coach. Alex is one of the few coaches who can come up with his strategy on a Monday and can translate that onto a football field on a Saturday.
“He doesn’t do it just by using a whiteboard or a power point, he does by coaching the lads from Monday to Friday. It is quite a rare quality. It says a lot about him as a student of the game and how much he
thinks about football. He has got a certain quality that has seen him be successful.
“He has done remarkable jobs with all of the clubs he has been at. I think he is well suited at some point, although I am sure Preston North End won’t be happy to lose him, to work at a big club. He has got that in him somewhere down the line.”
Many former Celtic players have been highly critical of Lennon during the 2020/21 campaign as the Parkhead club have struggled in the Premiership, bombed in both the Champions League and Europa League and been knocked out of the Betfred
Cup. Gould, who has coached extensively in New Zealand, Australia and England since hanging up his gloves, is unwilling to join them. He knows from personal experience that all managers have to contend with complex issues away from the glare of the public eye. He suspects the Northern Irishman has encountered many difficulties in this coronavirus-disrupted campaign.
“I am an old team mate of Lenny’s and I also don’t like stepping outside the Celtic family when things aren’t going right,” he said. “I’m not the kind of person who would have a go.
“There are always things going on inside football clubs that we don’t know about. People are dealing with certain things within that we don’t know about. I also know how much Celtic means to Lenny. He will be hurting.”
Lennon was signed by Celtic from Leicester City for £5.75m in December 2000 – and one of the central midfielder’s first big games in Scotland was the explosive League Cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden that ended in chaos with Lubomir Moravcik, Michael Mols and Claudio Reyna all being red carded.
O’Neill was an outstanding man manager, but Gould, who was drafted back into his first team that evening after an extended spell on the bench, recalls how his pre-match team talk didn’t exactly give him much confidence.
“I remember the semi-final vividly,” he said. “Martin had brought Rab Douglas in and I had probably gone a couple of months without playing a game of football..
“I can remember being in the changing room at Hampden before kick-off. Martin kind of looked at me. He had selected me because Rab was cup tied. He turned to the rest of the lads and said: ‘It will be worth giving Gouldy an early touch because clearly he’s going to be rusty’.
“You’re about to go out and play in an Old Firm game and victory could lead to a potential treble! I don’t think he put me at ease, but he certainly made the lads realise that they might need to do a bit of work for me. As it was, that wasn’t the case. We played really well that night and won 3-1. Jorg Albertz scored a penalty. Apart from that, I don’t think I had a great deal to do.”
Whoever succeeds Neil Lennon at Celtic will certainly have his hands full, but Jonathan Gould is confident Alex Neil will flourish if he takes over.