CONTINENTAL CLASS
‘I expect Ryan to thrive at the Euros. It will be a magnificent opportunity and experience for him. He deserves it’
SET against all that Steven Gerrard achieved during a stellar playing career for Liverpool and England, a proficient midfield performance in a Europa League qualifier could only suffer by comparison. Yet by describing himself as ‘jealous’ of Ryan Jack’s display against Osijek in August 2018, the Rangers boss was not only indulging in hyperbole but carrying out one of his very first acts of clever man management.
Those who argue Gerrard’s playing career counts for little in his current circumstances ignore the effect his mere presence at training can still have on a squad of players who grew up watching his allactions displays on television.
Gerrard immediately warmed to Jack’s professionalism when he took charge two-and-a-half years ago and that fulsome compliment was consciously delivered to help reignite the Aberdonian’s career after a spell blighted by injury.
Jack is not one for giving his emotions away and so we’ll probably never know just how inspirational he found his new manager’s words.
The steady arc of improvement in his form tells its own story.
The 28-year-old is now a firstchoice pick for his country and excelled in the play-off win over
Serbia that secured Scotland’s qualification for Euro 2020.
Thrilled to see his player at the heart of that success, Gerrard’s ‘envy’ has now given way to pride.
And, as the feelgood factor grows in the build-up to next summer, he hopes to reap the benefits of a happy and highly motivated player as Rangers pursue the Premiership title.
He said: ‘Watching Ryan the other night and seeing his celebration and his smile, how he handled himself after the game, I was really proud to be his manager.
‘He deserves this. This is a reward for all the sacrifices he has made since a young kid.
‘Ryan deserves a lot of credit for how much he has improved and the work and application he has put in to try and improve the level and consistency of his game.
‘When we came in we inherited a good player, without a doubt. Aberdeen had done a real good job in terms of his development and giving him the opportunity to play at the top level. He obviously became a leader.
‘We saw a winner too. Someone who was really keen and open to learn, grow and buy into what we were trying to do.
‘His consistency has been fantastic to see and it’s no surprise with the way he goes about his daily routine and business.
‘He does everything right at the gym, he eats well and he trains and prepares every single day for the game at the weekend or midweek.
‘So it’s no surprise that Ryan finds that level of consistency because he does everything right.’
While at pains to stress he will definitely not be supporting Scotland when they face England at Wembley in the middle group fixture next summer, Gerrard is looking forward to seeing how Jack handles the step up.
Jack’s ability to handle both the ball and the tactical challenge in a Europa League context has been impressive over the past couple of years but Gerrard knows he will have to step it up again for the games against not only the Auld Enemy but also the Czech Republic and Croatia.
‘I do expect Ryan to thrive at the tournament,’ he added. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing how he does because football is about levels.
‘The Scottish lads will realise pretty quickly that being at a tournament is different to qualifying.
‘The level goes up again. I’m looking forward to seeing how Ryan and the rest of the group fare in the section.
‘I think it will be a magnificent opportunity and experience for him.
‘The important thing is he stays healthy, tries to finish the season strong with Rangers and goes into that tournament in the best possible form.
‘We will give him the support he needs, domestically, to help him with that.’
A year ago it was hard to foresee such syncopation between the
Rangers manager and his Scotland counterpart.
Gerrard described the Scottish FA as being ‘careless’ in their treatment of Jack during an international meeting last September but since then there has been a constructive line of communication with national coach Steve Clarke.
Just as Gerrard was happy to make it known that he had subbed Jack off early in Rangers’ last league game with the Serbia match in mind, so Clarke made Jack one of a number of players rested for last Sunday’s game in Slovakia.
‘It’s my job to have dialogue and communication with Steve Clarke as the season goes on,’ said Gerrard.
‘We have been in dialogue to try and look after Ryan, who I know very well now. I know his body and what he can do and when he needs bits of support.
‘I have to manage and balance that because he wants to play every minute of every game.
‘That’s the way
he is wired up, the way he is built and that’s why he’s such a winner.’ With Allan McGregor retired nd Jon McLaughlin’s unlikely to ascend from his role as back-up keeper for club and country, Jack is the only Rangers player who can expect to feature at the Euros.
‘We want as many homegrown players as possible involved in our squad,’ says Gerrard. ‘But I think everyone will respect the fact that, first and foremost, they have to be good enough.
‘We are under pressure here to deliver results at one of the world’s biggest clubs.
‘If we can keep good Scottish players around us, I welcome that for sure.
‘We want Ryan here for the long term. We are happy and delighted to have him.
‘He sets a standard and a bar here for the rest to follow in terms of his level of consistency.
‘Watching the Scotland game, the lads in that group were outstanding. To suffer that setback so late in the game and react and get over the line in the way that they did, Steve, his staff and the players deserve an awful lot of credit and praise .
‘I’m a proud Englishman. I will be supporting England in the summer, don’t mistake me in that, but those lads have done a fantastic job for your country and everyone should be proud of them.’