Steven Gerrard says Alfredo Morelos 'owes' his Rangers team-mates after suspension
But while Gerrard is quick to express a debt of gratitude to Morelos for his part in the Ibrox club’s outstanding form in the competition since he became manager in 2018, he is equally keen to point out that the player still has a pending obligation to his team-mates as they enter the knockout stages of this campaign.
Morelos has been sidelined for Rangers’ last three domestic fixtures as a consequence of his latest disciplinary lapse, against Hibs at Easter Road last month, which earned him a retrospective ban from the Scottish FA which Gerrard admitted he simply could not contest.
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Hide AdDespite those flaws remaining in Morelos’ make-up, the 24-year-old remains Rangers’ most potent attacking weapon.
The Euro specialist
He has thrived on the European stage, claiming 22 of the 74 goals Rangers have scored in their 41 Europa League games under Gerrard so far. It has seen Morelos eclipse the previous club record of 21 European goals set by Rangers’ greatest ever striker Ally McCoist.
“Alfredo has had a fantastic run in this competition,” reflected Gerrard. “He has been really consistent for us domestically as well but these games seem to give him an extra spark.
“His goal return is the reason why we’ve had success in this competition during the time I’ve been here.
‘I know Alfredo is really chomping at the bit to come back (against Antwerp). Hopefully, he can make up for the time he has lost. I think he owes it to his team-mates to come back in a good place and try and finish the season in the best place he can.”
Gerrard is wary of the challenge posed by an Antwerp side currently second in the Belgian Pro League but also justifiably confident about his own team’s ability to impose themselves on the match at the Bosuil Stadium.
Kings of the road
Rangers’ away record in Europe under Gerrard has underpinned the progress which has seen three consecutive qualifications for the group stage of the Europa League. They have lost just four of their 21 games on their travels so far, keeping 11 clean sheets, as Gerrard has built a side who look highly assured at that level.
“The away form is something we’ve had to work extremely hard for,” added Gerrard. “We knew coming into the club more than two and a half years ago that it was going to be a process in terms of how we approached these games.
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Hide Ad“It was basically one step at a time. The players have grown and evolved over the period. We have given them information in terms of how we want our organisation to look and have worked on that on a daily basis.
“We have improved a lot but we need to keep maintaining the standard we have shown in Europe and try and strive for more.
“It’s one challenge at a time. We want to get into the last 16 again to match what we achieved last year. If we can, we will try and be as ambitious as we can to improve from there.
“This is a level where you can’t afford to have a night off, you can’t afford to put in a performance like, for example, our Hamilton performance recently.
“We know the level goes up in this competition, the technical quality goes up. So we have to be right at it and find our maximum level to qualify through this stage.
“In terms of going deep into the competition, it’s not really something to think about at the moment. It’s about trying to respect the challenge that is going to come (from Antwerp) over the course of the next seven or eight days and just take it one stage at a time.
“We’ve got confidence and belief, but we’ve got respect at the same time because these won’t be two easy games. We are playing against a powerful team who, physically and technically, are more than capable on their day of finding two top performances. That’s the reason it’s an intriguing tie.”
Gerrard in illustrious company
Gerrard could set a personal milestone on Thursday as he is just one victory away from equalling iconic predecessor Walter Smith’s tally of 23 European wins as Rangers manager. The former Liverpool captain has already matched Dick Advocaat’s mark of 22 but is dismissive of any comparisons.
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Hide Ad“The players deserve all the credit for our record in Europe,” Gerrard said. “They’re the ones who have gone out and put in the performances. In terms of being named in the same category or the same conversation as Dick Advocaat and Walter Smith - I don’t think I’m ready for that.
“For me, it’s just about getting the boys prepared, giving them a game plan to try and execute. What I will say is that every time we have given them that responsibility and challenge, they have stepped up.
“This is a competition that we really enjoy playing in and we want to strive for better. In the short term, we want to qualify for the last 16 again. To go further than we did last year is the dream. Further down the line, we have aspirations of playing in the Champions League at some point. That’s what we’ve all got to strive for.
“There’s no harm in dreaming, striving for the top and reaching for the stars. But I’ll say it again - you worry about what’s in front of you first, before you get too far ahead of yourself.”
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