Gerrard admits Slavia match is right up there with his biggest

STEVEN GERRARD admits the Europa League showdown with Slavia Prague is amongst his most important fixtures during his three-year spell at Ibrox.

Rangers stand on the brink of a place in the quarter-finals for the first time under Gerrard’s guidance as they attempt to turn a 1-1 draw in the first leg into a spot in the last eight draw.

The Premiership champions have already achieved their main ambition this term after delivering a first top flight title in a decade but Gerrard is well aware of the significance of the Ibrox clash.

Gerrard said: “It is right up there at the top with the most important games that we have faced and played in.

“The opportunity to achieve the last eight, from where the club was when I came in, is a chance to achieve something that is monumental.

“We want to go and empty everything we have got into this game.

“We don’t have to worry about anything else that is on the horizon after it, we just want to treat this game in isolation and go and give it our best and see where it takes us.

“If we are in that draw, it will be a fantastic achievement from the players.”

Victory for Rangers this evening would be another major boost to Scotland’s co-efficient and could lead to automatic Champions League football in the coming years.

Rangers have contributed massively to the improved standing of our game in recent seasons but that won’t be a primary concern against Slavia.

Gerrard said: “Not for the players or myself in terms of the next 90 minutes but we are obviously well aware of the [co-efficient] situation.

“We want to do everything we can for the country and to give ourselves the best chance in the future, of course we do.

“But the players just need to be focused on the game plan and the task about worry about what is in front of us and everything else will take care of itself.

“If we can find our best performance and it gives us a positive result, then everything else will take care of itself.”