After a rollercoaster year in Light Blue, Katic is now a Gerrard favourite
Nikola Katic looked like he was on the way out of Rangers last season.
Now the central defender admits he’d love a deal to stay for life and Steven Gerrard is looking to extend his contract.
The Ibrox club signed two centre-backs in the summer – Sweden internationalist Filip Helander and George Edmundson from Oldham.
With vice-captain Connor Goldson clearly one of the manager’s most-trusted players, things didn’t look promising for Katic.
The 22-year-old Croat had a rollercoaster first year in Scotland.
He started brightly before being left out of the side for several months, and only reappeared in the first team as the campaign came to a close.
But he’s currently a fixture in Gerrard’s starting XI, and was widely acclaimed for his outstanding performance against Legia Warsaw in midweek.
He is likely to be one of the first names on the teamsheet for today’s clash with Celtic at Ibrox.
Katic said: “When I hear the manager say I’m a mountain, it feels great. But I have to stay strong and keep my feet on the floor.
“I had such good performances – like the one against Legia – last year, followed by some bad ones.
“So if you play badly in the next game, no one asks you about the last one.
“I feel I’ve taken my game on to another level this season.
“I was a little homesick at times when I first came to Scotland, but thisismyjob.
“I love my work, it is something really good in my life. Some people do a job they don’t like.
“After one year here, I know what to expect from the games and what the manager wants from me.
“It’s not like it’s something new every game.
“I know what I need to do here in every game, and I feel more comfortable. I’ve settled in my life better now.
“Of course, I had to take my game up a level because the manager signed two more centre-backs.
“If you want to keep your shirt at Rangers, you have to show your best performances for the manager and the team.
“Just now, it’s good – but I can still be better.
“I thrive on the pressure of having Filip and George here. They’re amazing players, and you know everything about Connor.”
Katic is now happy to look to the future, and believes that entails several successful years in light blue.
A move from Slaven Belupo in June, 2018, saw him sign a fouryear deal.
The big Croat went on: “I never stopped believing in my ability.
“It was a difficult time when I wasn’t playing. I felt bad because I wanted to play.
“But I worked hard and believed a chance would come. “I really enjoy it here
“If I have to stay here my whole life, then why not?
“Every game you play in front of 50,000, you play European games and you have a manager like Steven Gerrard as well as some top team-mates.
“I saw the manager was asked if I had a Rangers’ mentality and he said ‘Definitely’. That was great to read.”
Gerrard makes no secret of how impressed he’s been with the defender.
He said: “The experiences of last season will help him become a better player.
“We want him around for a long time.
“He is one we are looking to try and extend and stay beyond the contract he is on now .”
Katic lined up against Celtic twice last season – a defeat away in September and a win at home in May.
His advice for newcomers to the fixture is simple.
The Croatian said: “Every tackle, every challenge, every ball, you have to be 100% focused because you play some amazing opponents.
“If you switch off for one moment, you can lose the game.
“You have to be focused for the full 90 minutes.
“When I was out of the side last season, it was a good lesson for me to watch these matches and see something from a different point of view.
“It helped me improve my game.”