Consistency is what Stevie-G wants most
Steven Gerrard admits the inconsistency of his Rangers side has left him despairing at times.
The Ibrox manager has watched his men produce a string of weak domestic displays, only to follow them up with outstanding efforts in Europe.
Last Sunday’s disappointing draw with St Johnstone didn’t inspire confidence that Braga could be knocked out of the Europa League.
However, Rangers looked a different side as they won 1-0 in Portugal to set up a last-16 tie against Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen.
The big head-scratcher for Gerrard is how he can get European-type performances against teams like Kilmarnock, Hearts and St Johnstone.
He remains puzzled by the inconsistency but believes it to be a situation that will be rectified.
Asked if he was tearing his hair out after coming home from Braga and wondering why those performances didn’t happen in the SPFL, the 39-year-old conceded it was a frustrating time.
He said: “I did it before I got home! “It is a difficult one because I know these players.
“When they are really in the zone, are focused and respect the challenge in front of them, they are a match for anyone they come up against.
“So, at times, it has been frustrating and despairing when you analyse some of the results we have had.
“Thinking about it and over-analysing it for too long is not going to help.
“It’s important you look forward. “I think what last Wednesday night showed is that when everyone is tuned in and follows a game plan, really sacrifices themselves for the team and parks their ego, we were a formidable team.
“That was probably the best performance we have had as a group. It makes you feel really proud of the side.
“When we can get that consistently I believe we will become a successful team.”
Gerrard, as he approaches the climax of his second season at Ibrox, is still learning about management.
He has signed players with undoubted ability but not all of them have shown it often enough.
He went on: “I don’t think talent’s enough.
“They wouldn’t be asked to join us, or come on the journey with us, if they weren’t talented players.
“To be successful and win when the competition is so challenging out there, you need players who have the right mentality, focus, standards and professionalism to go around the talent. “That’s what we’re trying to get here. “We want a group where everyone is on the same page and how we need to be on a daily basis, not pick and choose when you want to be like that.
“When we get there, I’m very confident these players can have some good times together.”
Gerrard spent many successful years as a player with Liverpool, but insists there were times of inconsistency at Anfield.
He said: “Yes, of course, at times. That’s what the best teams do, they find that consistency for longer periods and t hey are the ones that end up being successful.
“If we keep letting our standards slip from time to time that’s when issues and complications come in.
“We’re still trying to learn and grow. “I know we’re not the finished team, where I want us to be. So we’ll continue to try to improve things.”
Gerrard knows Leverkusen will be formidable opponents in the next round of the Europa League.
He’s an admirer of the strength of German football over the years.
The Rangers players won’t be allowed to ignore the need for success domestically before the first leg of the Europa clash on March 12.
And, while Gerrard maintains he doesn’t like to look too far ahead, he does admit that reaching the last-16 in Europe has exceeded expectations.
He said: “Getting to the group stage is always the remit. From a budget and a financial point of view, this club needs to be in Europe.
“Of course, when you come to the fourth round then you start thinking how good it would be to be in the group stage and to deliver that for the supporters. “It is where Rangers belong.
“But I never, ever thought once I would be sitting here talking about a last-16 game going back to the first game of the season.”