Gerrard insists he won’t park the bus
0 Rangers manager Steven Gerrard arrives at Glasgow Airport before the squad flew out to Slovenia for tonight’s second leg.
growing, that has confidence. So I want my players to play as big players, as a big team tomorrow and show we’re a threat away in Europe.”
However, the away goal netted by Mitja Viler in Glasgow last week has given Maribor hope they can rescue the situation.
But Gerrard has backed his team to handle whatever comes their way.
“It will certainly be a test and a tough one – but so was Shkupi and Osijek because we were not 100 per cent match fit in those games.
“I think it would be very naive for my players to go in and think that this will be a walkover. We understand
the threat that Maribor come with, we know they’re a Champions League-category team, so we come here with
STEVEN GERRARD
respect. But at the same time we won’t be getting nervous or scared by any comments that come out of Maribor.
“We’ll worry about us. I believe the team is ready and capable of getting the result that favours us.
Gerrard confirmed that Ryan Jack, Lassana Coulibaly and Scott Arfield are “all good to go” after shaking off their recent injury concerns.
But with Jon Flanagan suspended and new signing Borna Barisic ineligible, the Ibrox manager does have a decision to make over who starts at left-back.
Midfielder Andy Halliday is the favourite to plug the hole in Rangers’ defence – a prospect
which will bring out some supporters in a cold sweat as they remember back to the torturing he received from Celtic’s James Forrest the last time he had to fill that role in a big clash, April’s 5-0 Parkhead pasting.
But Gerrard said: “First and foremost I trust every one of my players. I’m confident that if any of them are called upon they will come out and do the shirt justice.
“It’s a shame that Jon’s suspended and Borna’s not available but it will be an opportunity for someone else and they have to be ready to take that challenge – but I do have confidence in every player.”
“This is not a case of us coming here to hang on and try to grind through the 90 minutes in order to get over the line”
learn to ignore things because he is going to be a target for defenders.”
He will be a target for the Kilmarnock defenders on Sunday with a place in the last eight of the Betfred Cup up for grabs and Rugby Park captain Boyd is relishing the challenge.
He said: “Morelos is definitely someone who brings something to Rangers. He can be a handful and the big thing is that he’s still only 22 and he can improve. He has that knack of being in the right place at the right time and can score goals. I don’t think he’s one to take people on, he depends more on service from his team-mates.
“He works really hard for the team and that’s something we’ll need to be aware of on Sunday, along with his physicality. The guys round about him need to be creating chances and, if they do that, he can certainly score goals. If he does ignore defenders and concentrates on what he needs to do, I’m sure he can get close to that 20 or 25-goal target.
“I’m looking forward to Sunday. Rangers have definitely improved, turned the corner, and we know we’ll have to be at our best to get anything from the game. It’s a cup game where anything can happen and Rangers are obviously coming back from Europe on the Thursday night as well.”