Gerrard has Euro Blues
Steven Gerrard hailed the “fantastic” display by old club Rangers in beating Dortmund 4-2 in Germany on Thursday – and wants Aston Villa to emulate the Ibrox club.
However, the former Liverpool and England captain admits his current side could take years to reach the level Gio van Bronckhorst’s men are operating at.
Gerrard, who quit as Ranger s bos s three months ago to take over at Villa Park, said: “I paid my respects to a real, high-end and top performance.
“They were fantastic and it was a special night.”
While Gerrard, who twice led Rangers into the last 16 of the Europa League, would love another crack at European football, he admits the Villa fans must be patient.
He said: “Look, I think it ’s obvious there is a
gap – you know that, I know that, the owners know that.
“European football is the long-term ambition and the long-term goal.
“How quickly we can close that gap, how quickly we can achieve that ambition, time will tell.
“But we have to focus on the now and the reality is that we’re 12th in the Premier League and to finish in the European places, there is a gap.
“So, we have to do everything we can in the shortterm – and focus on the short-term – to improve.
“We have got to keep building the group and, at every opportunity we can, get stronger.
“I can’t see why we can’t achieve it but it would be naive of me to put a time frame on that.
“I would love it to happen this season. I would love it to happen next season.
“But there’s a process and we have to focus on the challenges which are right in front of us because it’s too soon, right now, to be focusing on Europe.”