Gerrard’s protege is big fan of Advocaat
SCOTS UNDER-21 STAR SINGS PRAISES OF FEYENOORD BOSS
GEORGE JOHNSTON learned his trade under an Anfield icon — and now works at the feet of a Dutch master.
The Scotland Under-21 defender impressed Steven Gerrard so much during his time with Liverpool’s youth teams that the Champions League winner personally recommended him to Feyenoord via his friend and ex-team-mate Dirk Kuyt.
The Eredivisie side shelled out £500,000 in the summer to land the young defender, who now finds himself being coached by Dick Advocaat after Jaap Stam’s resignation last month.
Despite being 72, Advocaat showed he had lost none of his old fire as he spent much of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Groningen leaping about, cajoling his players and arguing with the fourth official.
With the benefit of first-hand experience of both protagonists, 21-year-old Johnston is backing Advocaat to get one over on present Rangers boss Gerrard when the two go head-to-head in Rotterdam on Thursday night in Europa League Group G.
‘Dick Advocaat has been great to work with,’ said Johnston of a manager who lifted five trophies at Ibrox between 1998 and 2001.
‘He’s definitely lifted the mood around the place. He’s quite tough, though. Jaap Stam was tough, too, but the main difference has just really been the atmosphere around the club.
‘It’s probably most noticeable in training. And I think you can see what he’s brought to the club on the pitch.
‘We had a 1-1 draw at Groningen on Sunday and that was the first time we hadn’t won in the league since Dick Advocaat came to the club, and I thought we played some nice stuff.
‘I know Steven Gerrard well because he worked with me at Liverpool and I know just what he demands of his players.
‘A couple of the Feyenoord players have been asking me what it’s like working with Steven, but to be honest, we are just focused on our own game. If we concentrate on playing to our strengths we will do all right.
‘It’s about what we do on Thursday rather than worrying about what Stevie will do with Rangers. He will get his players to give everything on Thursday and that’s obviously going to make it tough for us.
‘But at De Kuip with our fans behind us, everything is possible.’
Feyenoord sit joint bottom of Group G with four points. But the table is tight and they are just three adrift of Young Boys and Rangers, who are joint top with seven points.
Under Stam, Feyenoord lost 1-0 at Ibrox, but Johnston believes a revenge mission on home soil would see the Dutch side back on track to qualify for the knockouts.
‘Everyone at the club knows how important this match against Rangers is,’ he said. ‘The last game in Porto is important, too. If we win them both, we qualify.
‘I know the atmosphere is going to be electric at De Kuip and I can assure you the players will be right up for it. Hopefully, we can get the job done against Rangers and that would take us on to a massive game away against Porto.
‘Rangers are going to be very hard to beat. We found that out at Ibrox. The atmosphere is always great at our stadium and that’s especially the case on European nights. It will be outstanding again on Thursday.’
Johnston was an unused substitute against Groningen on Sunday, but he is ready and able to make an impact against his former mentor’s side if called upon by Advocaat. He harbours no regrets over his summer move from Anfield to Rotterdam.
‘At first, it was hard settling in here in a different country, but now I feel much more settled and happy. I’m really enjoying my time here at the moment. ‘I’ve been on the bench quite a lot, although I’ve not yet managed to play. I’ve been waiting for my opportunity to come and it’s up to me to take it. ‘It’s important for me to stay prepared for when I am needed. But I definitely feel I have improved since I arrived in Rotterdam.
‘It’s a different style of football and a different way of playing, but I feel I have adapted to that and I am enjoying it.’