The Scotsman

IBROX BOSS: ‘NO APOLOGIES FOR GETTING OVER-EXCITED’

- By STEPHEN HALLIDAY

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard admits he and his players ‘have got it wrong at times’ with their response to high profile wins achieved so far during his tenure. Gerrard attracted some criticism last December with his exuberant celebratio­ns directly into a TV camera following Rangers’ Old Firm victory at Celtic Park, while former Celtic striker Chris Sutton branded dressingro­om footage of the Ibrox squad revelling in their Europa League play-off win over Galatasara­y last month as ‘embarrassi­ng’.

But Gerrard, pictured, has accused those who have found fault with that conduct of hypocrisy and insists his squad will retain their humility in pursuit of success while making no apologies for celebratin­g the milestone moments they are able to enjoy along the way.

"I think it’s quite cheap for certain individual­s to say that at times we get too excited,” said Gerrard. “They have to remember that they have as well. They’ve done similar things to what we’ve done.

“Humility is a value that I have always tried to come close to because it is an emotional game and can get the better of you, whether you’re a player celebratin­g a win or on the back of a setback.

"Certainly, that’s been the case in my first few years in management. You live and learn and at times we’ve got it wrong but we make no apologies for getting over-excited at times.

“Players are human beings and it’s an emotional game. We’re a team and we’re individual­s and there are times we want the players to celebrate and enjoy themselves when they’re on the back of a big result or they get over a big hurdle.”

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