The success of Frank Lampard as a manager with Chelsea in the English Premier League, has made people’s attention begin to compare it with Steven Gerrard’s journey as Rangers manager. Especially Liverpool fans, could have started dreaming if Gerrard was the manager of Liverpool now, the duel against Chelsea would be a very interesting match.
Maybe it could have happened because Jurgen Klopp once said that after he finished at Liverpool, Klopp gave Gerrard’s recommendation as his successor. Steven Gerrard’s career as a player ended after playing for LA Galaxy United States from 1 July 2015 to 1 January 2017. The Liverpool legend since 1 June 2018 began to handle the Scottish Premier League club Rangers FC. His new contract expires on May 31, 2022. Previously Gerrard became Liverpool U-18 coach from July 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018.
Gerrard, who was born May 30, 1980 at the age of 39, has a UEFA Pro License training license. This is the highest level of coaching in Europe that is a requirement for someone to train a Premier level club in European competition. Gerrard’s first experience managing a professional club in Europe was to become Rangers FC Manager. Let’s look at the extent of the results of his cold hand with Rangers in the face of competition in the European League and Scottish Premiership.
In this year’s Scottish Premiership competition, Rangers are second in the standings with 28 points from 11 matches. Actually they have the same points as the top of the standings. Celtic is the eternal competitor of Rangers. It’s just that Gerrard’s club lost on goal difference from Celtic. Finally at the Global Energy Stadium. Meanwhile, his work in the European League competition, Rangers to date has collected 7 points in position 2 group G with 7 points equal to the acquisition of the top points of the standings, namely Young Boys.
In the next position each with 4 points are Porto and Feyenoord. Group G can be said to be a very tight competition group, all participants are still likely to qualify for the knockout round. In a match that just ended at Glasgow’s Ibrox Stadium, Rangers won 2-0 over FC Porto. In addition to Porto and Young Boys, Gerrard’s club is also a group with the Dutch club, Feyenoord.
According to Gerrard, Porto is a serious and important respected competitor. Before the match against Porto at the Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow early that morning, Gerrard commented: “But that doesn’t affect what we will do, we just need to focus on us. We don’t see it as pressure, we see it as an extraordinary opportunity to appear in front of our supporters. Obviously to beat one of the big names in Europe is more interesting than true really burdensome. “
Rangers have played 7 games with 2 matches won, namely over FC Porto and Feyenoord and played in a series with FC Porto when they travel to their headquarters, Estadio do Dragao, Porto Portugal. While the only defeat was from Young Boys when they visited their headquarters at the Stade de Suisse, Berne. Rangers then lost 1-2 to Young Boys and will host the club on Matchday 6, December 13, 2019 at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow. Before the last match, Rangers will visit Feyenoord headquarters in Rotterdam on Friday 29 November 2019.
Rangers’ track record in 2019 European League competition is quite impressive. The match on Matchday 5 against Feyenoord was the decisive match for Rangers’ qualification to the next round. Gerrard is optimistic about the performance of his club. Just one step away, Rangers have set foot in the knockout stages of the European League.
ASL
