Belongs to beginning £7m man
It’s another winger that Gerrard knows well who will be trying to end Rangers’ European hopes this week.
One- time Liverpool player, Ryan Babel, is now plying his trade with Turkish giants Galatasaray.
They come to I b r ox on Thursday for a play-off game that decides which side progresses to the Europa League group stage.
Gerrard went on: “I know Ryan very well. He is a good friend of mine.
“I really enjoyed playing alongside him. I think he is in a good place in terms of where he is at with his football.
“He had a little bit of a mixed time at Liverpool. But when he got it right, he was a hell of a player to play alongside because he is powerful, he is quick, he can go past players and he has a cannon in his right foot.
“He is a ver y dangerous opponent. But I know Galatasaray quite well in terms of personnel.
“We will have to find out a little more in terms of what system they are playing, and their style home and away.
“We will certainly have our respect for them come Thursday.
“Football is about levels, there is no getting away from it. But this will be up there alongside the Portos, the Feyenoords and the Bragas of this world.
“We are going into a Champions League- level of game. We are going to have to find a special level of performance.”
Ianis Hagi was born in Istanbul when his father, Gheorghe, was starring for Galatasaray.
Gerrard is anxious to play down talk of the midfielder having an emotional reunion with the side he grew up supporting.
He said: “This is about Rangers v Galatasaray. Ianis is in a good place, and going from strengthto-strength from pre-season.
“He is really starting to come to the fore in terms of numbers and creation in his game. We are very pleased with him.
“We don’t want him to go into this game with any baggage, or thinking about anything that is not necessary.”
It’s back to domestic action today, with Rangers taking on Motherwell at Fir Park.
Rangers will again be missing the injured Ryan Jack, Joe Aribo and Kemar Roofe.
Gerrard is hopeful that Jack will return in time for Scotland’s Euro 2020 play- off against Israel on October 8.
He added: “It’s very difficult to put a fixed date on Ryan’s return. But he has progressed, and he is starting to do some stuff outside now.
“That’s normally a sign that they are not too far away, and he is likely to be the first of the three to come back.
“I hope he is back for us before the international game.
“If he is back for us, and he comes through those games no problem,
I don’t see why he wouldn’t be available.”