RANGERS WILL NEVER LOOK DOWN ON EUROPA LEAGUE, INSISTS GERRARD
WHAT a quaint old concept. Six rounds of knockout European football then a final. And so brilliant was the showpiece in 2001, when Steven Gerrard scored and lifted the famous UEFA Cup trophy, that you couldn’t imagine any desire to take any wrecking balls to the competition.
‘Winning was one of the highlights of my career, the trophy is amazing, I had some terrific experiences in it,’ says Gerrard of the 5-4 ‘golden goal’ victory over Alaves in Dortmund which starred a certain Gary McAllister as man of the match. Roma, Porto then Barcelona were beaten en route by Liverpool.
But then UEFA, who now have a cunning plan for a third European competition for 2021/22, expanded to group stages three years later and a laborious qualification process five years further down the line when rebranding to the Europa League.
This is the event Rangers have gained access to following eight fraught matches and journeys to Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia and Russia. They join group opponents Villarreal, Spartak Moscow and Rapid Vienna and 44 other clubs on the winding road to Baku. Which, of course, will be added to by eight likely winners of the competition appearing from the Champions League in December.
Anyway, a tournament treated by some middlerank English topflight clubs as a nuisance is gold for Rangers. Not since a 2010 Champions League thirdplace finish behind Valencia and Manchester United have they played group stage European football. They sat out five seasons altogether in between early-round exits under Ally McCoist in 2011 and Pedro Caixinha last year. Gerrard said: ‘Where Rangers are, I don’t think we can disrespect the UEFA Cup, or Europa League as it’s called now. This is what we wanted since we came together on June 15. We’ve given so much energy, effort, commitment and body-on-the-line stuff to achieve this, so we want to enjoy it, embrace it. We want our supporters to have some good trips and good experiences at Ibrox. We certainly won’t look down on the competition because we’re not in a position to.’
Group G houses opponents sure to represent a step up in class for Rangers from that in their arduous qualifying phase. Villarreal were fifth in the Spanish top flight last term, Spartak Moscow third in Russia (13 points ahead of Ufa) to reach Champions League qualifying and Rapid Vienna saw off Steaua Bucharest to earn their spot.
‘We have to understand the task is about to get tougher again,’ cautioned Gerrard. ‘The technical level is going to go up a notch, the standard of player and even the atmospheres are changing.
‘But now that we’re here, we don’t want to just settle for being a number in the group. It’s my job to put belief into the players that we’re capable of getting out of the group — however we do it.’
This week’s trip to Castellon arguably sees Rangers confronted by their most difficult test on opening night. Villarreal’s poor start to the season — one that saw them stuck in 18th with only one point from three games — suggests Javier Calleja’s team could be vulnerable.
But Gerrard noted: ‘If you look at us in the Premiership, we maybe haven’t got the points we deserved. So it
would be disrespectful if we write Villarreal off.
‘We’re away against a tough team who will be excellent. technically. We’re underdogs and it’s a great challenge for us.’
When Gerrard talks of the challenge increasing and technical level rising, he probably has an old rival from his Liverpool days in mind.
Santi Cazorla (right), now 33, didn’t play for the last 18 months of his six-year stay at Arsenal because of a serious ankle injury. He returned fit this season for a third spell at El Madrigal.
When asked what Cazorla was like to play against, Gerrard replied: ‘Murder! He had a very low centre of gravity and could manipulate the ball with either foot.
‘Any player who played in the best Spanish side of all time deserves respect. I know he’s had his injury problems of late but he was a tough, tough player to play against. Not tough in terms of pressing you, getting in your face and being aggressive with you.
‘But you go near him and he’ll pass it round you. And he can make fun of you with either foot. He’s a top, top manipulator of the ball.’
Cazorla is a top player. He will pass it round you and he can make fun of you with either foot