SINNER TURNS SAINT
Gerrard hails goal hero Patterson
STEVEN GERRARD last night explained why Nathan Patterson deserved a second chance after the youngster repaid him in spectacular style to help Rangers storm into the Europa League last 16.
The 19-year-old right-back scored his first senior goal just 16 seconds after being introduced as a half-time substitute in an emphatic 5-2 second-leg defeat of Royal Antwerp.
Patterson had been among five players fined by Rangers after breaching Covid-19 regulations by attending a house party earlier this month. Alongside
Bongani Zungu and Calvin Bassey, he was named on the bench against Antwerp just a day after returning to training following a period of isolation.
While all are still likely to face SFA punishment, Gerrard stressed Rangers are now keen to draw a line under the incident.
He praised Patterson for his response but stressed the talented youngster must make sure he never repeats such a high-profile error of judgment.
‘It’s been quite a week and it should be the biggest learning curve of that boy’s career,’ said Gerrard. ‘He’s a fantastic kid and he comes from a lovely family. He needs to understand what the people top to bottom at this football club think of him.
‘He’s got an opportunity and he needs to learn from this and make sure it doesn’t happen again. He’s a wonderful footballer with a big future ahead of him.
‘As someone with four kids myself, I want to be someone who gives people a second chance. I have made similar mistakes myself.
‘I hope he takes on board what we have said to him this week. Nathan was superb tonight. He came on with the right mentality and brought energy and physicality and obviously scored a wonderful goal.
‘It was the reaction he needed — and that we needed for the team, more importantly.’
Zungu also appeared as a late sub as Rangers completed an extraordinary, free-scoring success over the two legs. Alfredo Morelos scored the opener in an outstanding performance before contributing to three further goals.
The Colombian’s pass set up Patterson, prior to another assist for Ryan Kent. Morelos then won a penalty that Borna Barisic converted before substitute Cedric Itten added another spot-kick in stoppage time.
‘I think his performance was sublime,’ Gerrard said of Morelos. ‘If you think about what a No 9 needs to give in this system and this formation, he gave everything we asked of him.
‘He is really settled off the pitch at the moment with his family, he is really happy and coming into work with a smile on his face. Tonight we certainly got the best out of him and if he can keep performing like that from now until the end of the season, it is going to be a huge season for the club.
‘I think it was probably the strongest performance Alfredo has put in this season when you look at the all-round game. I thought he was unplayable, strong, held the ball up well and was really physical. Their defenders couldn’t handle him.’
Having reached the last 16 for a second successive season, Rangers enter today’s lunchtime draw alongside Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham.
‘Whoever you come up against in the last 16, it is going to be a big challenge, especially if you get one of those English teams because we would be punching well above our weight, for sure,’ said Gerrard. ‘We want to keep trying to go one further from a European point of view.’