Champagne for Mr Gerrard
Manager is soaked by his players on joyous Trophy Day
Steven Gerrard was drunk with title-winning success last night – after his players did their best to get him tipsy on champagne.
The Rangers manager watched his men wrap up their Invincibles Premiership campaign with a 4-0 win over Aberdeen.
But as his players lifted the trophy and cavorted on the pitch, Gerrard was soaked with bubbly, with Alfredo Morelos the ring-leader.
The forward, wrapped in the flag of his Colombia homeland, sneaked up on his boss and emptied a bottle over the suited Gerrard.
“That’s another fine for him for sure,” the manager joked later when asked about his striker.
“It feels good, and it’s been a while since I had the smell of champagne.
“Everyone knows what it smells like – but it’s been so long I’m enjoying it.”
Steven Davis has been in football long enough to know that individuals don’t win championships.
The midfielder has played a massive part in Rangers securing their first title for 10 years.
And his outstanding performances this season have seen him pick up the Scottish Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award.
But it’s typical of the 36-year-old that his joy at being honoured is tempered by his disappointment for one of his team-mates.
While Davis has been able to finish the season in fine style, things have been a lot more difficult for midfield colleague, Ryan Jack.
He has been battling against a calf injury that has limited him to just seven appearances this year.
The former Aberdeen lynchpin has successfully undergone surgery, but now faces at least three months of rehabilitation.
It means he will miss taking part in this summer’s Euros with Scotland.
And Davis knows how much it means to take part in a major tournament with your country.
He played for Northern Ireland when they ended their 30-year absence from international Finals at the 2016 Euros in France.
Having experienced that excitement, he’s bitterly disappointed that Jack will be on the sidelines while Scotland take on England, Croatia and the Czech Republic.
Davis said: “I am absolutely devastated for Ryan that he’s going to miss out on the Euros.
“I know how much it means to him personally, and how hard he’s worked to put himself at that level.
“He established himself in the Scotland team, and would have been a starter, I’m sure.
“He just wants to get himself back fit and ready for next season now, and hopefully put the injuries behind him.”
Jack’s absence in recent weeks would make it easy to forget the part he has played in Rangers’ title triumph.
There’s no chance of Steven Davis undervaluing his contribution.
He went on: “Jacko’s one of those who has continually improved, season-on-season, and progressed.
“That’s been evident ever since I’ve come back to the club. I can’t speak highly enough of him.
“He’s been a great player for us – on and off the field – and he drives the standards.
“Up until he got the injury this season, he was our mostconsistent performer. That goes for every day in training, as well.
“We are looking forward to having him back. He’s been a big miss at the end of the season.
“I don’t think we’d have been able to cope with Jacko’s absence in previous seasons, so that’s testament to the other lads that have stepped up.
“But we are certainly a stronger
Ryan established himself in the Scotland team, and would have been a starter at the Euros, I’m sure
team with Ryan Jack in it.”
There was a time, before he signed a new one-year contract in March, when it looked like Davis might hang up his boots.
Steven Gerrard implored him to keep playing, but was unsure how his player felt.
Davis admits the first lockdown that followed the Coronavirus outbreak did put one or two doubts in his mind.
However, he served up a superb season and believes there’s more to come as his moves towards his 37th birthday.
He added: “My diet, and the way I train, has changed over the years.
“I go back to the lockdown, and the worry I had at this stage of my career was that it was the first time having that break.
“You try to do everything you think is right. But you don’t know whether it’s enough or too much. It’s getting that balance.
“Thankfully, I came back for preseason in a good place, and I have carried that on and, touch wood, been lucky with injuries this season.
“I have been able to play more games than I imagined I would have.
“I feel good. You certainly know your body as you get older, and I am just trying to do the right things to keep myself performing.
“A special moment was scoring with that overhead kick in an Old Firm game.
“I can’t remember too many like that in training, never mind my career!
“I was getting plenty of text messages from friends, asking if my back was all right afterwards.
“But the body is feeling good, and that’s the main thing.”
Davis was voted Player of the Year ahead of team-mates Allan McGregor, Connor Goldson and club captain, James Tavernier.
He believes the short leet for the award being dominated by Rangers players shows their success has been a real squad effort.
It’s not easy for him to come up with an answer when asked who he would have voted for.
Eventually, he plumps for his side’s goalkeeper, Allan McGregor.
He said: “It could have been any of the ones nominated – or even beyond that.
“It’s been such a strong season as a group, and as individuals.
“I’d probably have voted for Greegsy, but there’s Tav, Connor, Kenty. There’s too many to name.
“I wouldn’t like to be making that decision.
“I’m just thankful I’ve been chosen, and delighted to get the award.
“When you set out on a season, you just want to have an impact and perform to your best, and to help the team be successful and do your job.”
Davis won the first SPFL title of his career under legendary manager, Walter Smith, in 2009 and has made it four under Steven Gerrard.
He has huge admiration for both men.
“I hold Walter in the highest regard for everything he did for me in my career and, taking football out of it, how he treated me as an individual.
“I have a great relationship with him, and he’s an absolute legend of the game
“Straight away, when you came into the club, you realised the stature that he carries, and the man he is.
“I’m told he’s said nice things about me. I’m very honoured and humbled by that.
“Steven Gerrard deserves huge praise from me, too.
“When you are setting up a team, you recognise the attributes that individuals have, and try to find a system that works for them.
“The way we play in midfield – and the role I am asked to play – certainly suits me, and gives me the platform to perform to my best level.
“I thoroughly enjoy playing in that role.
“The way we are set up, and the players I have around me, allows me to show my qualities.
“The manager and his coaching staff have to take huge credit for that and, of course, just giving me that belief as well.
“There’s nothing more a player can ask for than the manager’s trust.
“You’ve got to gain that. But whenever you have that, it’s a great feeling.”