‘In a shell’ – Gerrard claims some Rangers players were intimidated after Ibrox arrival
Steven Gerrard said that his first two or three weeks as Rangers boss were the most important, but admitted that some players were initially intimidated by him.
However, he also confessed to being nervous himself ahead of his first team talk.
Following a career that included 710 appearances for Liverpool, a Champions League winners medal and 114 England caps, Gerrard made his first step into management when he was appointed Rangers head coach in 2018.
Speaking on The High Performance podcast, the 40-year-old said that some of the players were in their shell to begin with and that he felt like he perhaps intimidated some of them at first.
“Different players probably handled it initially differently. Some people were in a shell, maybe a little intimidated in the early days and weeks,” Gerrard said.
“I think they were hanging on to every word and really open to seeing what I was going to be like. They were fascinated with what I was going to be like, ‘He’s new, he’s not been anywhere before’. The first two or three weeks of me going into Rangers were probably the most important two or three weeks.”
Asked how he felt when he first met up with the players, Gerrard added: “Addressing the Rangers squad for the first time is one of the most nervous talks I’ve ever done.”
Finding his feet
Last season was a big step forward for Rangers and Gerrard, but it was unfortunate to see form fall away so dramatically after Christmas.
The Old Firm win at the end of December created huge optimism around Ibrox but the season ended in disappointment – although it didn’t really finish at all because of Covid-19.
The Rangers side has put that behind them and kicked off again strongly this season, building a six-point lead at the top of the Premiership.
The side is still to taste defeat.
It seems Gerrard has finally found his feet and created a squad ready to dominate Scottish football again and it’s fascinating to hear how he was nervous of speaking to the players and how some of them were intimidated by him.
It shows just how big a club it is and how important it is to perform when you’re part of the Gers family.
Next stop: silverware.
In other Rangers news: View: Gerrard has unearthed huge gem, youngster is readymade replacement for key Rangers star