GERRARD ‘JEALOUS’ OF JACK’S DISPLAY
Gerrard admits he envied Ryan’s midfield display as Gers draw
STEVEN GERRARD admitted he was jealous of Ryan Jack’s midfield masterclass as Rangers booked their place in the Europa League third qualifying round. The 26-yearold turned in a superb individual performance at Ibrox to help the Light Blues to a 2-1 aggregate win over NK Osijek. A late Borna Berisic strike cancelled out Nikola
Katic’s second-half header but was not enough to deny Gerrard’s side a meeting with Maribor next week.
And the 38-yearold was delighted with the maturity and professionalism from the Gers as they turned in their finest showing of the campaign so far.
Gerrard said: “It was one of the pleasing things. We are going to have moments when it’s a bit turbulent and backs against the wall.
“But that’s the reason we brought in leaders and characters like Allan McGregor. When you need him to be big, he’s big. We brought in two centre-halves who have been outstanding.
“As a midfielder, I was jealous of Ryan Jack’s performance tonight. It was stunning.
“Now people are feeling us, they know we are not a soft touch.
“Not many teams will come here as good as them.
“I had watched Ryan from the outside. But it’s not until you get close up to these players that you see what they are about and how hungry they are, how they live their lives.
“I think I have got a good type on my hands there. He is player who cares, who wants to win and is prepared to go out on the pitch and do exactly what you have asked of him.”
A number of Osijek players, and boss Zoran Zekic, had expressed their confidence that they could overturn the 1-0 deficit in the build-up to the return in Glasgow.
But Gerrard reckons the cocky Croatians only served to inspire his side.
He said: “Talking doesn’t win you football matches, it doesn’t get you results.
“Sometimes it doesn’t help your players, it just motivates the opposition.”