Stevie admits Gers messed up in Vienna
STEVEN Gerrard has admitted Rangers squandered a giltedged chance to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Europa League against Rapid Vienna on Thursday night.
And the former Champions League winner revealed he will spend the coming days analysing where his team could have performed better and how they can improve next season.
The Ibrox club lost 1-0 to their Austrian rivals in the Allianz Stadium to miss out on a place in the last 32 of the competition.
Gerrard stressed he was proud with how his charges, who came through four qualifying rounds to reach the group stages, had performed on the continent in the last five months.
But the 38-yearold wants Rangers to do even better in Europe during the 2019/20 campaign and is already assessing how they can achieve that.
“On the flight home my mind switched immediately to the Hamilton game,” he said. “I will definitely have a look back though. When I reflect sitting here just now it’s mixed emotions.
“I am extremely proud of the players and what they achieved, but I can’t help thinking it was a bit of a missed opportunity as well.
“I think the players gave a really good account of themselves throughout the entire European journey. We fell a little bit short on Thursday night, as everyone knows.
“But sitting here I can’t ask my players to give me anymore. Right from Shkupi, through four qualifying rounds and into the group stages they gave me everything.
“We have given an incredible account of ourselves and undoubtedly brought a bit of pride back to Rangers from a European point of view.”