SWITCH FOCUS BACK TO US, SAYS GERRARD
Rangers manager urges international players to hit the ground running when they return against Aberdeen
If there was any team who really didn’t want their momentum disrupted by the international break, it was Rangers.
Before t en of his players headed off with their respective countries, Steven Gerrard’s side were moving along at full throttle, with an 8- 0 rout of Hamilton Accies keeping them nine points clear of Celtic at the top of the Premiership table.
The Rangers manager is now keen to ensure there is a seamless return to club action for his squad when the title race resumes with the visit of Aberdeen to Ibrox tomorrow.
“It is key and that is the challenge for the players,” said Gerrard. “The important thing for me is to get them back in the Rangers place, to focus back on Rangers and get them away from international duty and a focus on what is going to face us in the coming days.
"All the focus and attention needs to be on Aberdeen. It is a big game. They deserve that attention because they are a good team and they will pose a difficult challenge to us. The players are really looking forward to this. You can feel around the place that there is a confidence and belief about them but it is always a challenge after a break, a couple of weeks’ break, even when you are in top form. The challenge is can you find that rhythm again as quick as you can.”
Rangers kicked off the cur
rent league campaign with a 1- 0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie in August which was more dominant than the score indicated. But Gerrard is wary of the danger Derek Mcinnes’ side – unbeaten away from home in the Premiership so far – can pose to Rangers’ perfect record at Ibrox of seven wins and seven clean sheets in the league this season.
“I think Aberdeen will come
t o I brox with confidence,” added Gerrard. “They are on a good run of form, the Scottish Cup semi- final against Celtic aside, and they have reacted from the defeat against us in the first game of the season and gone on a really strong run.
"They have got players back from injury and the Covid situation they were involved in. I am sure they are going to come
and fancy their chances and with confidence and belief.
"I n t erms of what we are going to face, we think it will be the same as previous encounters. They will be well organised, physical and they will carry a goal threat like they do. It is a big game and a big challenge for us but we can’t be going into it in a better place ourselves. For me, the focus is always what shape are we in
and we couldn’t be in a better place to face this challenge.”
Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack comes up against his former club again tomorrow afternoon. He believes that the victory at Pittodrie in the season opener has laid the platform for their still unbeaten league campaign so far.
“I think that definitely was the case,” said Jack. “We knew that every time we have gone
to Pittodrie, especially in the l ast couple of years, i t has always been a tough venue for us. There were games where we had been in control, but it can get away from you because they are a good side.
"Weknew that was a big start. We had to get three points. We got that and we kicked on from that. At the time, the manager said he hoped it was a marker for us.”