GERRARD’S BIG EURO NIGHTS AT RANGERS
WHEN Lyon visit Ibrox tomorrow night, it will be the 50th European tie Rangers have played under the management of Steven Gerrard and his team. Gerrard’s respected coach, Michael Beale, believes the French side may just have the most talented squad the Scottish champions have faced. Ahead of the hotly-anticipated clash in Group A, which also features Brondby and Sparta Prague, BRIAN MARJORIBANKS recalls six of the best European nights of Gerrard’s Ibrox tenure so far.
UFA ................................... 1
RANGERS ......................... 1
Europa League play-off round, second leg, August 30, 2018.
Ahead in Russia through an early goal from Ovie Ejaria, after a 1-0 win at Ibrox, Ufa levelled through Dimitri Sysuev before Rangers had Alfredo Morelos and Jon Flanagan sent off. Down to nine men for the final 24 minutes, the depleted Ibrox side survived a nerveshredding onslaught as Ufa had 26 efforts on Allan McGregor’s goal. At the end of the tense encounter in the Neftyanik Stadium, Gerrard had succeeded in steering Rangers into the group stage of European football for the first time since the Ibrox side graced the 2010-11 Champions League. The Ibrox boss immediately recognised it as a huge moment in his Rangers rebuild. ‘The last couple of years have been tough for the players and a lot of criticism had come their way,’ he recalled. ‘But I always had one eye on the moment when we could say we had first achieved something together. I thought that night (in Russia) was that moment. ‘I could feel a shift in the dressing room, a belief in the dressing room, a togetherness.’
RANGERS .......................... 1
LEGIA WARSAW ............... 0
Europa League play-off round, second leg, August 29, 2019.
The clock showing six minutes of added time at Ibrox had just gone up when Alfredo Morelos got on the end of a Jordan Jones cross to propel Rangers into the Europa League group stage. As Ibrox became gripped by bedlam, Gerrard raced out of his technical area, first in celebration and then to remind his stars they were not there just yet. When the smoke from the Polish supporters’ pyrotechnics had finally cleared, the Ibrox side had secured a 1-0 aggregate win against a talented side. Back in the group stage, Gerrard had restored Rangers as European regulars. ‘I’ve just had to get myself off the ceiling,’ he said. ‘I had to go for them at halftime and I got the reaction I wanted. We took the shackles off and we really went for Legia. The players deserve the plaudits.’
RANGERS .......................... 1
FEYENOORD ..................... 0
Europa League Group G, September 19, 2019.
ON a tear-stained evening at Ibrox, Rangers fans and players joined forces to deliver the perfect tribute to the late Fernando Ricksen. Gerrard’s pre-match pledge to put on a show worthy of Ricksen, who had died earlier that week from motor neurone disease aged 43, saw arguably the finest 45 minutes of his tenure to date as Rangers hounded their Dutch visitors. After Sheyi Ojo’s stunning strike gave the Ibrox side victory, he dedicated the goal to Ricksen. ‘It’s been an emotional 24 hours for everyone connected with the club,’ said Gerrard. ‘Everyone was looking for a performance for Fernando’s young family to be proud of. I thought my players were outstanding, especially in the first half. We deserved it. The fans were fantastic. It was very fitting.’
RANGERS ......................... 3
BRAGA ............................. 2
Europa League last 32, first leg, February 20, 2020.
Under Gerrard, Rangers have had fine results and performances in Europe
against Portuguese opposition such as Porto and Benfica. But this enthralling match against Braga was an Ibrox European experience that will echo down the ages. Two down to a fine side, who scored through Fransergio and Abel Ruiz, Rangers’ 14-game home unbeaten run looked in peril. But with 23 minutes to go, an exquisite finish from Ianis Hagi brought hope where there had seemed none. Joe Aribo fed off the Ibrox buzz to level before Hagi’s deflected free-kick in the 82nd minute — in front of watching father Gheorghe Hagi — secured a truly incredible win. ‘In European football, magical nights happen,’ beamed 2005 Champions League winner Gerrard, whose side finished the job by beating Braga 1-0 away to reach the last 16. ‘I’ve experienced them as a player and tonight was right up there. We’ve beaten a real, good, dangerous team.’
RANGERS .......................... 2
GALATASARAY ................... 1
Europa League play-off round, October 1, 2020.
With each year, the quality of opposition barring Rangers’ way to the Europa League group stage had increased in quality. This time, Gerrard’s men were up against a Galatasaray side that had competed in the previous season’s Champions League. Again, they were not found wanting. A 19th qualifying match without defeat unlocked group stage riches of up to £10million as second-half goals from Scott Arfield and captain James Tavernier saw Rangers beat Fatih Terim’s Turkish giants 2-1. ‘It’s up there with the best nights we’ve had,’ said Gerrard. ‘We beat a good team today, an experienced team with fantastic players and a fantastic manager. So I am very pleased for them and they deserve it. ‘We have had a lot of fantastic experiences in the two-and-abit years from a European point of view.’
LECH POZNAN ................... 0
RANGERS ........................... 2
Europa League Group D, December 10, 2020.
Gerrard could afford to make seven changes for this trip to Poland and still wrap up top spot in Group D ahead of Benfica with whom the Ibrox side had drawn 3-3 in Portugal and 2-2 in Glasgow. In beating Lech Poznan 2-0, Rangers set a new Scottish record of 14 points won in a European group. The only other Scottish team to previously go through a group unbeaten was Walter Smith’s 1992-93 Rangers side when they finished a point behind Marseille and missed out on the final of the inaugural Champions League tournament. Goals from Cedric Itten and Ianis Hagi over in Poland also ensured Rangers were seeded in the draw for the last 32, where they would draw Royal Antwerp and progress 9-5 on aggregate. ‘We have deserved to be number one in the group because it has been six outstanding performances,’ said Gerrard. ‘Arguably, we could have beaten Benfica home and away, so we definitely deserve at least 14 points.’