‘Safe use of pyros OK’
It’s raining but they are there to get autographs.
“I remember saying to one of the players, ‘It’s unbelievable – can you imagine what it would be like if we could actually win the league?’ It is an unbelievable support and someworld thing that surprised me, to be honest.
“We are lucky as players to have that support. Why would you not want to be a part of that? We now want to finish this season strong and then look ahead to the next one.
“The demands and the pressure are both always there at this club. You need to win every game and I love that. As players that’s what you want. I thrive on that because in every game you want that fire in your belly.
“I go into every game believing I can score. I still have that edge going into games. Having been out the team you realise it’s an opportunity and you want to do well.
“But I want the team to play well and win. To get a goal is a bonus. As forwards that’s what you’re judged on. You can have the best game in the but if you don’t score as a striker that’s what you’re judged on.”
Defoe will celebrate his 37th birthday in October but Rangers manager Gerrard has no doubt his former England team-mate can continue to operate at a top level next season. He insists he wants Defoe as part of his squad regardless of whether Rangers decide to cash in on Morelos this summer.
“You are looking at a player with a body which is defying the odds,” said Gerrard. “Jermain has never had a sip of alcohol in his life and he has been impeccable around the training ground since he walked into this club.
“After training sessions, he pulls the young strikers like Josh Mcpake and Dapo Mebude aside and does an extra 15 minutes with them from a coaching perspective. No-one has asked him to do it, he just wants to give something back to up and coming players.
“That’s gold dust for us as a staff. He is a special person as well as a special footballer. That goes a long way. They are the type of people I want with me moving forward.
“There are a lot of reasons why Jermain hasn’t had as much game time as he’d like, obviously the main one being when Alfredo is scoring freely and I favour playing with one main striker. But, moving forward, if we get the right people around him, then Jermain can do that job as a single number nine.
“If Alfredo is here or not next season, I want Jermain here right alongside me on this journey to try and achieve something special for Rangers.” The Green Brigade Celtic ultras group has backed the “safe” use of pyrotechnics at football grounds but condemned those who throw them onto the pitch or at people.
Police and Celtic are investigating after St Mirren goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky needed treatment after a loud bang unsettled him when a firecracker was thrown from the away end during Celtic’s 2-0 win in Paisley on Wednesday.
Pyrotechnics are banned by law in Scottish football grounds but smoke bombs in particular are a regular feature at games. The Green Brigade has been associated with their use but distanced itself from the latest incident.
In a statement, the Green Brigade accused the Scottish Government, police and judicial system of seeking to build support for “another assault on the rights of football supporters” following the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act. The statement added: “As an ultras group, we support the safe, sensible use of pyrotechnics, however the launching of pyrotechnics on to the park or in the direction of people is both unnecessary and counterproductive to any aspirations of normalising its use.”
Celtic vowed to take “the strongest action possible” if they are able to identify anyone involved in the incident. Chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “Last night’s incident was completely unacceptable and not something we ever want to see repeated.”