Gerrard says club have been to ‘hell and back’
STEVEN GERRARD admits Rangers have been to “hell and back” over the past 10 years – but he now feels that Ibrox is a fortress.
The Govan outfit are celebrating being crowned kings of Scotland for the 55th time after bitter rivals Celtic stumbled at Dundee United yesterday.
Having spent so long in the shadow of their bitter rivals, the Govan side have now cantered to the title with six games to spare, and they travel to Parkhead in two weeks’ time.
Rangers beat St Mirren on Saturday to turn up the heat on their foes and with thousands of supporters welcoming the team to Ibrox, Gerrard admits it was a special moment.
He said: “I don’t think while I’m representing this club there will ever be a bigger three points. It was an emotional day, arriving at Ibrox and seeing the scenes it was an incredible feeling.
“I’m lost for words in terms of how I want to describe my team. I have been here for three years and they have taken me on one hell of a journey.
“It hasn’t always been up and up. But I’ve got nothing but plaudits to give my players. I thought they played with control, maturity and style.
“We’ve made this place a fortress this year in terms of the league and the players are on a real big high. This club has been to hell and back for the past 10 years.
“I have only been a part of it for three but I can certainly relate and I have that affection with the fans. I know what they have been through so I can totally understand the scenes.”
Gerrard arrived in Glasgow during a difficult period, but he now feels there is a togetherness at the club that can breed more success.
He continued: “My main priority was to connect everyone at the club, from the board to the team and everyone around us.
“I knew I was bringing good people up here to share the journey with me. I have to mention players who have come and gone and helped the process.
“Rangers fans like Andy Halliday – I need to name check him. Everyone has played their part and we won’t forget them.
“But now it is all about the supporters. They have been through enough and this is their time. And I am just really proud to have played my part in that.”
JOHN KENNEDY has stressed that nobody at Celtic will be allowed to feel sorry for themselves after losing their grip on the Scottish title to Rangers.
Kennedy, who took charge on an interim basis when Neil Lennon resigned last month, admitted the outcome of the 2020/21 campaign had been bitterly disappointing. However, he stressed the Scottish Cup holders, whose next game is against Rangers at Celtic Park in a fortnight, still had a great deal to play.
The caretaker also dismissed suggestions that a major overhaul of the football department is required in the summer.
“Everyone’s disappointed, us as much as the fans,” he said. “It’s been a rough season and ultimately we have to face up to the fact we have not been good enough this year and Rangers have been better than us and that’s why Rangers have won the league.
“We’ve had such a long spell of dominance, not just in the league but other competitions as well and this is a setback for us. We can’t stand back and feel sorry for ourselves and think ‘oh well that’s gone’, we have to keep driving forward.
“There is the Scottish Cup to play for and for players in the squad it’s about moving forward to next year and the next challenge.”
Asked what has to happen for Celtic to recover, Kennedy added: “That’s a decision for the board and how they structure things and what they want to change, but ultimately it’s about having the core group there and adding to that and getting better and improving.
“I think there is always panic in these moments and it can be very emotional at times, especially in Glasgow where it is always Celtic and Rangers, when one wins and the other doesn’t there is a setback and everyone gets so concerned by it.
“Yes, there have been concerns this year we have to address, but massive overhauls don’t often work. We know what we have to fix and we have to make sure we fix it.”