Steven Gerrard:Leverkusen will bring the best out of Rangers

Not many teams with as impressive a home record as Rangers can boast in the Europa League would expect to find themselves as clear underdogs on their own patch.

Steven Gerrard faces the media ahead of Rangers' Europa League clash against Bayer Leverkusen at Ibrox.

But that’s the scenario the bookmakers are painting for Steven Gerrard’s team ahead of the first leg of their last-16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen at Ibrox tonight.

Despite having yet to taste defeat in 15 Europa League matches at home since becoming Rangers manager almost two years ago, Gerrard can easily appreciate why the odds compilers reckon the Bundesliga side are likely to leave Glasgow with a lead in the contest.

He is fully aware of both the high quality and commanding current form of a Leverkusen outfit he himself regards as on a par with Champions League contenders Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.

The ragged domestic displays of Gerrard’s own side since the winter break also suggest they might find Leverkusen simply too hot to handle.

Yet the Rangers manager believes his players can rise to the occasion yet again, as they so often have in the Europa League on his watch, and carve out another positive result to keep their hopes of a quarter-final place alive.

“I think we will find a performance,” said Gerrard. “I can see the boys are focused in their preparation. They’ve been lively in the last couple of training sessions. So we all know as a group collectively that we’re going to have to find a performance if we’re to compete with this level of opposition. Sometimes it takes opposition like this to find your best, so let’s hope that’s the case.

“I have, on certain days in certain situations (noticed a difference in the team before European games). I definitely see a determination and a focus to go and put a really good, proud show on for our fans.

“When these fans are behind us in this stadium and we can find that level, then we’re a good team. So we believe we can compete with anyone that rolls in here.

“It’s a very exciting tie. I think it’s a fantastic game for myself, the players and our supporters. Together, we’ve earned this right. We’ve done ever so well since the first qualifying round. We’re the only team left in it from that stage.

“The crowd will definitely be with us. They really appreciate the work and the effort that’s gone in to get us to this stage.

“These were the nights that I 
wanted when I first came in the door and to try to bring the pride back in European competition.

“The players have earned that, so I’m sure the fans are going to be right behind us and we’re certainly going to need them.

“I know Leverkusen are a fantastic team. I think anyone who is sitting in the top four of the Bundesliga, you have to respect them instantly. The German league is one of the strongest in the world.

“This is a team that’s competing with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund and Leipzig who have shown over the last two or three weeks in the Champions League that they can compete with the top teams in the English Premier League. We know what we’re dealing with, we know the challenge. But this is an opportunity that we all want to look forward to and relish and go and give it our best shot.”

Gerrard will be without influential midfielder Ryan Jack, still sidelined by a knee injury, while captain James Tavernier was unable to train yesterday as he continues his recovery from a foot issue.

Tavernier will be given a late fitness test today and, if he fails to make it, American international Matt Polster is likely to deputise at right-back.

The Ibrox playing surface, described recently as ‘awful’ by Gerrard, continues to present problems which he admits could partially 
influence the approach of his players.

“I don’t think the pitch is in a way which forces us to tear apart our game plan or own style,” he said.

“But we do have to be sensible and, if it is a wet night during the 90 minutes – and the pitch does begin to cut up – then obviously as a player you 
sometimes have to alter your decisions. Unfortunately we were not in a position to allow ourselves or Leverkusen to train on the pitch ahead of the 
game.

“It’s been well documented the problems we’ve had with it due to the extreme weather we’ve had in the last eight to 12 weeks. It’s not in fantastic condition.

“The groundsmen and staff have been working tirelessly to improve it and it’s slightly better than it was when Braga came to town in the last round.

“But what we wanted to do was give both sets of players the best surface we could provide, so training on it on Wednesday morning and Wednesday evening wouldn’t have helped the situation.

“So the right decision was made, although we do apologise for not making it available to Leverkusen. The situation with the pitch is something which will be rectified in the future.”