Gerrard wants tobailout minnows
Rangers boss has a plan to ensure that cup ties carry on
Steven Gerrard wants Scotland’s big clubs to bail out their lower-league counterparts over Covid-19 protocols. The Rangers manager believes they should help fund the cost of expensive swab testing when the clubs meet in domestic cup competitions.
He believes doing so would be the best way to ensure the competitions get completed this season.
Gerrard said: “I don’t think the club will thank me for this, but I think that the big clubs might need to show some support to the parttime teams, or other teams lower down, that are not in the same financial position.”
The Europa League draw kept Rangers and Tottenham apart, with Steven Gerrard’s men set to face Galatasaray or Hadjuk Split should they get past Willem II on Thursday.
Plenty would argue that is good news in terms of their prospects of staying in the competition, but Defoe believes they could have given his former club a game.
“I think we showed during the last campaign in Europe we could compete,” he said.
“You are playing against these top teams and top managers, and actually competing and doing well.
“You look at a lot of the players in our team and the campaign last season, and that brings confidence.
“We know that we can match these teams physically.”
Of course, Spurs have Gareth Bale arriving soon, with the £85-million-rated Wales star having last night signed on loan from Real Madrid, with a view to buy.
Defoe has backed Bale to make the sort of dream return that he himself enjoyed.
The Rangers striker scored 43 goals in 139 appearances for Spurs from 2004 to 2008, and another 47 in 135 when he came back after a brief stint with Portsmouth.
That is the sort of consistency Jose Mourinho would love to get from the Welshman.
“For me, it is the perfect time and the perfect move for him,” said Defoe.
“I have never really understood it when people say, ‘Never go back’.
“Gareth is going back into a team where there has been a transitional period with one of the best managers ever in Jose.
“There are going to be a lot of new faces now, but he knows the place.”
Defoe is likewise bullish about what the deal will mean for his former employer.
“It is a massive signing, isn’t it?” he said. “It’s a bit of a fairytale.
“He was linked with all those other teams, as you could imagine because he is a top player, and to see it happen now is amazing.
“I hope he goes there and does well.
“The attacking options that Mourinho has now look quite frightening, to be honest.
“It has been difficult for Gareth. I know him, and he’s a nice guy, a family man, and a top, top player.
“All he has to do now is just play football and be happy. That is when we are our happiest – when we’re playing.”
Defoe, meanwhile, has pledged his continued support for the Black Lives Matter sporting protests.
“Taking a knee continuing before the game is not just for the black players. I think it is for everyone, to be honest,” he said.
“You look at the marches and all these people together show this generation is not going to tolerate racism, which is nice.
“I would like to think that it will continue, and that there will be some big changes, because it is definitely needed.”