‘Game of chess’ – Rangers forward Roofe shares similarities between Gerrard and Marcelo Bielsa
Kemar Roofe has highlighted the similarities in management between Rangers boss Steven Gerrard and Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Roofe signed for the Gers this summer and has found that comparisons can be made between his new manager’s tactical style and the style of his former manager Bielsa.
The 27-year-old striker played under Bielsa in his final year at Leeds and told CFB Football that setting up for games under both coaches is ‘like a game of chess’.
“The way in which Marcelo Bielsa and Steven Gerrard see the game it is not: ‘Let’s line up eleven against eleven and see what happens at the final whistle’. It is not like that. Everything is thought out and there is a reason behind why we are doing it, actual tactics and we will train a certain way to help us in the next game,” Roofe said.
“We will set up a certain way and players will get certain roles and jobs to do for different games so it’s like a game of chess basically. It is not always down to who works the hardest running-wise or who is strongest or skilful there is a lot more to it such as formations, positions and how to actually play certain formations. There is so much behind it and there is a lot of thought that goes into it”.
Roofe has only made six appearances since his summer move from Anderlecht but has managed to score two goals against Dundee and Kilmarnock. He is currently returning from injury after missing the Gers’ last six games.
He will join a stacked Rangers attack when he returns to full fitness as he will have to compete for a place up front with Alfredo Morelos, Cedric Itten and Jermain Defoe. However, Defoe was left out of Gerrard’s Europa League squad which could hint that the English forward will be used more in Europe rather than in the Scottish Premiership.
The Gers will start their Europa League group stage campaign on Thursday when they take on Standard Liege away from home. Roofe could feature after training with the first-team this week ahead of the European clash and Rangers fans will be looking forward to seeing what he can do if he gets the nod on Thursday evening.
In other Rangers news, a BBC actor is baffled as Rangers star misses out on SPFL team of the week.