Ejaria excited to play a part in Europe after Anfield watching brief
Sunderland struggling was tough. Playing with Liverpool at youth level, I was used to winning
OVIE EJARIA lapped up European nights at Anfield watching Liverpool in Champions League action. Now the England Under-21 international is living the dream at Rangers after swapping Merseyside for Ibrox on loan.
As Rangers prepare to face Spartak Moscow in the Europa League on Thursday, the Londonborn son of Nigerian parents is relishing the prospect of another evening of European action.
He said: ‘Playing in Europe is a big thing. You play against different playing styles, against different teams in different countries, and I’m enjoying it.
‘I hadn’t sampled much European football before I came here and I had only really played youth tournaments when I was younger.
‘Being able to play in a big competition like the Europa League was a huge factor in me coming here. If we can perform as well as we are capable of against Spartak Moscow, then we can get the three points we are looking for.
‘I’ve been at Anfield watching Liverpool in the Champions League and Europa League. I had seen what it was like but to actually play in it is something else — I love it.
‘The atmosphere against Rapid Vienna at Ibrox in the last Europa League game was incredible, especially after we got the second and third goals. It was something I had never experienced before while actually playing in a game and it was great. But while are all really looking forward to the European game, we have to worry about Hamilton first.’
Ejaria is at odds to explain why Rangers have failed to win away from home in the Premiership, although he was quick to stress that not every performance has been sub-standard.
But no such criticism can be levelled against Steven Gerrard’s side on their European travels in the wake of a run that has taken their rivals by surprise. Rangers are undefeated in ten matches so far, drawing four and winning one of their away ties while compiling an impressive home record of four wins and a draw.
Their most recent success was a 3-1 home win over Rapid Vienna earlier this month — which preceded a home Premiership win over Hearts by an identical margin — and Ejaria senses that there is a growing belief in the camp.
He said: ‘Every game we win adds to the confidence we have as a squad. The two wins we had before the international break were good for us and we want to try and carry that on now.
‘We have some big games coming up and we want to win them. Travelling around together and sharing rooms and stuff helps to create a strong bond.’
From a personal standpoint, he also believes that the experiences of his loan spell with relegated Sunderland (below) last season offered a valuable learning curve.
Ejaria added: ‘You want to win games but when I look back at my Sunderland spell, I think it was a good experience for me.
‘It’s nice to be in a different environment here at Rangers, in terms of actually winning games. ‘Sunderland struggling was tough as with Liverpool youths I was used to winning. ‘So going to Sunderland was new to me and I had to try and adapt. Mentally it was tough but it helped make me stronger mentally and prepared to come to such a big club as Rangers.’