Ibrox fans urged to care of their mental health
STEVEN GERRARD has urged Rangers fans to take their mental health seriously as he offered an insight into his Ibrox mindset.
Gerrard joined supporters on a ‘Team Talk’ event that was hosted by club sponsors 32Red in conjunction with the Rangers Charity Foundation last week.
The sessions allow participants a chance to share their mental health experiences during lockdown and explain how they have coped with the Covid pandemic.
Gerrard has once again been a pillar of strength for his players and his staff to rally round this season as Rangers have enjoyed huge success and clinched their first Premiership title in a decade.
And the Ibrox manager will continue to assess his own role and responsibilities as he learns on the job in the dugout and looks to deliver further silverware in the coming years.
Gerrard said: “Start taking it seriously. This has given me a lift, coming on here.
“I think it’s a fantastic project. A lot of clubs in this country and down south put a lot of hard work in to support people who need it.
“From a personal point of view, and I know the players echo this, we want to do everything we can to be more connected to the fans and help them in any way we can.
“So, I think it’s a great initiative. And I think there needs to be more and we need to keep growing it from a Rangers point of view and we’ll do everything we can to do that.
“I think it is something that am still working on from a personal point of view. It is part of management, part of everyday life and you have to accept that some days are going to be better than others.
“Certainly, from a football point of view we know that is going to be the case and it is me still being a young manager, still trying to grow and evolve and get better.
“That was one area where felt I needed to get better at and focus on from a personal point of view. As I say, it
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is a work in progress.
“But, in this position, it is important that I try and remain as balanced as I can when I am facing adversity or from a successful point of view.”
Rangers would end last season on a real low note as they saw their title challenge unravel before coronavirus brought a premature end to Gerrard’s second term as manager.
His third has been unique on and off the park but it has ultimately been a historic one after a 55th league flag was clinched in March and Rangers are now just two games from an unbeaten Premiership campaign.
Gerrard said: “At the beginning of the season, just getting back into this building and among training was a real high.
“I got a real good feeling about the season. We had a lot of talks during lockdown, a lot of one to ones and group meetings with the team.
“I got a real special feeling from the players. But obviously the night of the St Mirren game when we got it over the line from the 55 point of view, I think that’s been my best feeling at Rangers by a long way.
“It’s given me the hunger to go and try and build on that now and achieve more.
“That was a big part of the remit when I came here – what they wanted. So to do it in this historic year was a real special feeling for everyone connected with the club and think that has to be the highlight.”
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