41,000 Rangers fans turn out for Gerrard’s opener

IT felt like the first day of the season and not, as it was, a friendly against League Two opposition on World Cup quarter-final night. But that is what the arrival of Steven Gerrard has done to the blue half of Glasgow. Forget Brazil and Belgium — an incredible 41,000 turned out at Ibrox to watch the new manager’s reign kick off against Bury. The raucous welcome he received when he stepped from the team bus for the first time was like many he would have enjoyed at major tournaments with England. Not that Gerrard is thinking of those days anymore. He spent the early part of the World Cup at a training camp in Spain rather than a television studio in Russia, shaping a squad which already includes seven summer signings. Gerrard can only concern himself with bettering Celtic. A convincing second-placed finish would be a success in his first season, not that the former Liverpool captain will be settling for that just yet. ‘I’m one of the hungriest people on this planet,’ he wrote in his first programme notes. ‘The players have to match that otherwise it’s pointless working together.’ His side certainly looked desperate to impress him last night and they were 3-0 up by half-time thanks to Jamie Murphy, Nikola Katic and Scott Arfield. Gerrard took a moment to observe the crowd, bouncing in unison and in song. He can only imagine what the noise will be like when the action starts for real. GIANLUIGI Buffon, the 40-year-old former Juventus goalkeeper, has signed a one-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain.