Gough warns Gerrard the hard part is ahead
Rangers legend RICHARD GOUGH knows the trials and tribulations of trying for two-in-a-row
One thing always overshadowed the achievement of lifting the league title at the end of a long season for Richard Gough.
The desire to win the next one. That was the attitude prevalent in the dressing room when he was leading Rangers to nine-in-a-row nearly 25 years ago.
Having answered searching questions and silenced doubters, the current Light Blues squad have been cautioned by the club legend that the demands on them have only just begun.
The second and, if progressing that far, third titles will prove even more difficult to attain than the runaway first, even with the Celtic squad trailing by 20 points undergoing a transitional summer.
There are ingredients Gough considers essential to Rangers reaching for Premiership glory again, and establishing a dynasty, like the team he played in.
A committed dressing room, hungry players and Steven Gerrard
You need a very committed team. Good players with a hunger to do it again – and again
constantly upgrading his starters every year are three prerequisites.
Ahead of this afternoon’s High Noon Old Firm showdown at Ibrox, Gough said: “To win the second or third, which are the toughest, the dressing room is very important.
“You need a very committed team. Good players with a hunger todoitagain–andagain.
“It’s not easy to constantly go out to win games when everyone wants to beat you so badly.
“You must keep your core people. “The value of a few has rocketed because of what they’ve done with Rangers. So when the transfer window opens, the club will have decisions to make.
“It’s difficult to repeat. I’m sure there will be a huge challenge from Celtic. I think it’ll be close next year.
“Rangers have had an incredible season in not losing a league game up till now and, of course, the important thing was that title.
“But there must be disappointment when your main rivals get knocked out the cups – then you get knocked out, too.
“Steven must add a couple of better players than he’s got at the moment, just like Rangers always did in my period.”
The season after the Graeme Souness revolution of 1986/87 clinched a first crown in nine years, his multi-starred side finished third.
Gough’s mid-season arrival from Spurs couldn’t stop Celtic topping their Centenary celebrations with The Double.
But the Ibrox club never looked back under Gough’s captaincy, and went on to win the next nine Premier League championships.
Last weekend’s Scottish Cup exit to St Johnstone, Gough insists, was ample warning of the requirement for making constant improvements to maintain supremacy.
He recalled: “I regarded 1988/89 – with Gary Stevens, Chris Woods, Terry Butcher, John Brown, Ray Wilkins, Ally McCoist, Mark Walters and Kevin Drinkell – as strong a Rangers team as I played in.
“Two years later, we got fortunate when I was in hospital with hepatitis and we beat Aberdeen on the last day.
“The big thing after that was getting Andy Goram, Stuart McCall and David Robertson signed, and we kept improving.
“Then Brian Laudrup one year, Paul Gascoigne the next. From then on, it felt more downhill.”
Gough believes Gerrard’s management has been the key to teasing every ounce of talent from a squad that took two seasons without silverware to be constructed to his liking.
“The current team has definitely punched above its weight. Steven has got a lot out of them,” stressed Gough.
“That’s no surprise because he’s been a brilliant appointment.
“To get the big name to dip his feet in the managerial waters at Ibrox was a huge move from Dave King.
“I played against Steven a couple of times for Everton against Liverpool.
“I realised then that he was pretty driven, even as a young kid, and he went on to have an absolutely marvellous playing career.
“He’s brought a standard and a style with him, and has impressed that on his players.
“In my first few years at Rangers, we had the best English internationals – four or five in their starting team – plus Scotland players.
“Gerrard can’t do that. The football world is different now. Not all his players are internationals.
“So the job he’s done is remarkable, particularly in Europe.”
The core that Gough views crucial to keeping Rangers on the right road includes veterans Steven Davis and Allan McGregor, who he thinks are set for Ibrox swansongs after penning one-year deals.
With Ryan Jack’s midfield dynamism – once fit again – and the potential of Nathan Patterson alongside, the old boys can be big players again.
Gough said: “It’s still going to be important to have those two, who have been through it all.
“This, I imagine, will be their last hurrah. Rangers will look at the keeper situation, with Allan playing at 40 next year. And with Davis at 37 in the middle, you’ve got to keep energy around him.
“That’s where a fit-again Jack comes in. The solidity he brings lets others play. Joe Aribo misses him because Jack allows him to do his thing in the final third.
“We’ve seen what happens when there’s injuries to important guys like Scott
Arfield and Jack.
“But they’ve done the job, and
I don’t think even optimistic Rangers supporters saw this coming, the way the league panned out.
“It’s been remarkable.”