Gerrard insists he can’t afford to focus solely on league

STEVEN GERRARD last night insisted he has built a Rangers squad capable of battling it out for every trophy up for grabs next season. Fans and former players, including Nacho Novo, have suggested Ibrox supporters would accept a poor season in Europe in return for stopping Celtic winning nine championships in a row.

However, Gerrard has been busy in the transfer market this summer, signing Jordan Jones, Jake Hastie, Greg Stewart, Sheyi Ojo, George Edmundson and Joe Aribo (below, with Gerrard) in addition to landing Steven Davis on a permanent deal after his loan spell from Southampton.

And the Rangers boss has vowed he will never field a weakened team in continental competition or focus solely on the title at the expense of the two domestic cups.

‘There’s no getting away from the fact the league is the priority,’ admitted Gerrard. ‘But we will also give everything in the other competitions.

‘I understand the opinion of ex-players, the media and fans saying the league is the priority.

‘But come a European night at Ibrox in front of 50,000 fans, if I put a weakened side out, what are people going to say about me?

‘If I toss off the League Cup, what are people going to say about me?

‘If I give up the Scottish Cup, what are people going to say about me?

‘My job is to get a squad capable of trying to compete with what’s in front of us.

‘The squad isn’t finished yet but it’s not far off and once we get it down a bit, we hope it will be strong enough to compete on all fronts.’

Last season, Rangers negotiated four rounds of qualifiers, against Shkupi of Macedonia, Croatian side Osijek, Maribor of Slovenia and Russian side Ufa to reach

the group stage of the Europa League.

Gerrard admits their continental exertions came at a price. But speaking from his side’s gruelling pre-season training camp in Portugal, he vowed his team will be ready for any challenges that come their way during the new campaign.

‘The Europa League definitely had an impact last season,’ he said. ‘In terms of how many points it cost us in the league, it’s impossible to say. So did the discipline side of things. We have to learn from that, too.

‘But that’s the reason we have had to be quick in the transfer market to get a strong squad together.

‘These games we are about to face will be hard — and we have to be prepared for them.’

Meanwhile, on-loan Liverpool winger Ojo last night scored on his first appearance for Rangers as Gerrard’s side beat Mansfield Town 2-0 in a pre-season game in Portugal.

Midfielder Greg Docherty, who spent last season on loan at Shrewsbury Town, netted the second against the English League Two side.

Ibrox attacker Jamie Murphy started his first match in 10 months since picking up a seasonending knee injury on the plastic pitch at Rugby Park last August. HIGHLY-RATED youngster Josh McPake is set to sign a new three-year deal on the club’s return from Portugal.

The winger was named Rangers academy player of the year last season and, with 12 months on his contract, he had been on the radar of Roma and Liverpool. But Gerrard is a big fan of the 17-yearold and has struck a deal to keep him at the club until 2023.

If I put a weakened side out, what are people going to say?