BACK OFF KLOPP
RANGERS No2’S WARNING McAllister says boss Gerrard is staying put – despite Jurgen’s wish
Mac: He only has eyes for Ibrox
BY GAVIN BERRY GARY McALLISTER insists Steven Gerrard is focused on Rangers despite Jurgen Klopp publicly endorsing him as his successor at Liverpool. Klopp, named world coach of the year
this week, insisted Gerrard would be a replacement for him, saying: “If you ask who should follow me, I’d say Stevie. I help him whenever I can.
“If Liverpool were to sack me tomorrow, then maybe Kenny Dalglish would be the first choice to replace me but they would probably bring Stevie down from Glasgow. Kenny and Stevie have both been a really big support from day one.”
Ibrox No.2 McAllister, however, is adamant his gaffer isn’t looking for a return to his spiritual home.
Gerrard is only in his second season in senior management and is looking to move a step closer to ending Rangers’ eight-year wait for a major trophy when they face Livingston in tonight’s Betfred Cup quarter-final.
McAllister said: “It’s a massive compliment but Steven’s really focused on his job here at Rangers.
“Everybody sees it as a natural progression, purely because of his attachment to the club. He’s a proper iconic Liverpool player. But the talk is all hypothetical – he’s got a job to do here and that’s all I can say about it.
“I know how focused he is to try to win something. He appreciates the fact Rangers took a chance on him as a young manager with little experience.
“Rangers were brave in appointing him but as soon as this job became available, and Steven mentioned he’d be interested, he jumped all over it.
“He was very keen to get here because he knows what this club is like. It’s very similar to the club he played for throughout most of his career.”
McAllister admitted having someone like Klopp to lean on has been good for Gerrard. He said: “There have been points throughout his time here when he’s known there’s somebody there like a comfort blanket.
“That’s somebody with greater experience and somebody who is an actual winner. You know, a lot of people say they’re winners but he actually is one having won at the highest level in the biggest competitions.”
Meanwhile, Eros Grezda took to social media to claim there was more to his spit shame after Gerrard told him he wouldn’t play for the club again.
He said: “Totally agree spitting is disgusting but there is always two sides to a story!!! Apologies for last day’s actions.”
McAllister added: “Eros is going to make a statement and that is where it’s at.
“It’s a difficult one to comment on.”