“Eight games unbeaten and you haven’t been behind for a single minute… this management lark is easy, isn’t it?!”
“I wish, I wish,” replied a grinning Steven Gerrard before admitting his start to life as Rangers boss had “fantastic”.
Progress in the Europa Leaugue couple with a slew of signings and a decent start in the Premiership (one win, one draw) has seen the mood lift at Ibrox after the malaise of 2017/18. Gerrard is settling in well at his new club but admits there is a long, long way to go if Celtic are to be challenged.
The former Liverpool captain was interviewed by Robbie Savage on BT Sport, this weekend, and was well prepared for the Celtic questions he knew would be eventually coming.
“How excited are you to be taking your Rangers side to Celtic Park in a couple of weeks?” asked Savage. “Massive game, that one.”
A smiling Gerrard replied, “I knew you’d ask that! Is Chris Sutton beside you?”
“Celtic have set the standard up here over the last couple of years. They are on the back of two trebles.
“We understand the task and how difficult the challenge will be, especially with the game being at home for them. first.
“But I think the important thing for me is not to be obsessed with Celtic and what’s going on over there. What’s really important for me is trying to sort out this house here, which is Rangers, and trying to make us better, individually and collectively. Let’s try to be competitive.
“I think Celtic have had it their own way up here for too long, up here, and my job is to try and improve Rangers so when we do come up against Celtic and every other challenge, that we’re competitive and we have a shot to win.”
Savage was not settling for that, and pushed on by asking if the priority was ‘toppling Celtic and winning the league’.
“Yeah,” Gerrard replied, “of course. I’ve signed a four year contract here… the thing for me is that we need a bit of patience and time to build, and improve, but Celtic are certainly the standard up here in Scotland and the team everyone is trying to chase….
“I’m not obsessed with Celtic, I’m obsessed with Rangers and trying to improve.”
"The important thing for me is not to be obsessed with Celtic."
"I'm really pleased with how far we come, but we must keep building!"@RobbieSavage8 quizzed Rangers boss Steven Gerrard after his bright start in Glasgow. #SaturdaySav pic.twitter.com/GzVXZXwvIC
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 18, 2018
That league tie at Celtic Park on Sunday, September 2 should tell Gerrard exactly how far his new team has come.
