Rangers driven by mistakes In the cup
Gerrard determined to makes amends for knockout slip-ups with another trophy
THERE is a place in Steven Gerrard’s mind reserved for the ones that got away and the days where silverware was there to be clinched but ultimately slipped through his grasp.
They are outweighed by the occasions that he savoured, though, and the memories of some of his finest moments are more prevalent than the ones which saw him left emptyhanded.
Whether it be his first medal with Liverpool in the League Cup two decades ago or his famous strike that inspired the Reds to FA Cup glory at the Millennium Stadium, there are times that are forever etched in Gerrard’s psyche, occasions that have shaped him into the man and manager that he is today.
When Rangers are crowned Premiership champions next month, Gerrard will have another day to cherish. Time will tell if one further opportunity will arise the following week.
The knock-out competitions have not been kind to Gerrard as Rangers manager and Celtic are the next hurdle that must be overcome if the champions are to take another step on the road to Hampden.
The opportunity is there for Rangers. Now Gerrard will look to inspire his players to achieve once again and ensure they live the same dreams he did.
“When I look back on my playing career, it’s the cup success which gives me the most satisfaction and it’s what you are remembered for,” Gerrard said. “I got to many semi-finals and finals and didn’t manage to get over the line. It’s not something I ever really go back and focus on but you are obviously well aware of them – they scar you and remain with you.
“But it’s the positive days, the success, the trophies, the experience of winning together on a big stage that gives you the most satisfaction as a player looking back on your career.
“So my job is to put the players in a place, mentally and physically, to give them the best chance to do that – and make them realise that you don’t want these moments and opportunities to pass you by. Too many of them have in the time we have been here and we want to try and correct that situation.”
One such chance has already been blown this season, of course, after Rangers saw their Betfred Cup ambitions come to a premature end at the hands of St Mirren.
Given their superiority over their main rivals in the league, the fact that Gerrard’s side suffered such a shock defeat was a source of anger and frustration in December.
Even now, that loss still hurts. But so do the defeats to Aberdeen, Celtic and Hearts that ensured Gerrard went into this campaign still searching for his first silverware as a manager.
“It certainly helps in terms of your own drive and your own ambitions,” Gerrard said.
“It’s something we want to put right.
“I think we have hit the post and the woodwork on a couple of occasions when trying to achieve that, which is not good enough here. We accept that.
“But I want to be someone who doesn’t look at the past very much. We are trying to move on from what’s been an incredible season and I think that gives everyone an idea of where we are at.
“It’s about what happens in the future. Sunday gives us an opportunity to get closer to where we want to be, which is at Hampden competing for another piece of silverware.”
The first medal of Gerrard’s managerial career was one of the most significant of his time in the game as he guided Rangers to their historic 55th title win last month. The season will forever be remembered fondly by supporters but Gerrard knows one success will not be enough for a demanding and discerning fan base that have cup glory in mind.
“That’s what this club is about,” Gerrard said. “It’s about striving for success and then once it comes along it’s about what’s next. What becomes your next priority? What becomes your next opportunity to build on what’s already been an incredible season? We are not at a place where you are allowed to stand still or become complacent. We are well aware of what we have achieved but we gain nothing from standing still.
“So Sunday gives us the opportunity to win a big football match, an important football match, and a chance to be one step closer to the next target, which is the Scottish Cup.”
It is not just the absent Ibrox crowd that have their sights firmly set on further success ahead of the fourth Old Firm fixture of the season.
Gerrard made it clear in the aftermath of their title win that Rangers still had targets to achieve in the closing weeks of the campaign and that message has been re-affirmed in the days since and in the buildup to the eagerly-anticipated meeting with Celtic.
Gerrard said: “It is something I’ve spoken about, of course it is. Not just me, but members of my staff as well. But I think
the players are bright enough to know what club they are at and what this club is about. Part of the expectation and responsibility here is to be aware of what your job is and what you have to strive for.
“I don’t think any player or member of staff is under any illusions about what we have to do and strive for here, which is to try and win as many competitions as we can.
“We’ve never focused just on the one. It’s about all of them. We’ve put a real decent effort in from a European point of view. We’re really disappointed by what happened against St Mirren.
“We have gone and won the league which is an incredible achievement but it’s about what’s next and trying to add to what we have already done. It would be a real strong season if we can go and achieve our next target in the Scottish Cup.”