‘I don’t think it’s fair’ – Gerrard responds to comments about Rangers star
Steven Gerrard has said that Alfredo Morelos shouldn’t be ‘held in the same breath’ as Rangers legend Ally McCoist as he looks to break the Scot’s European goalscoring record.
Morelos scored his 21st European goal for Rangers in last week’s 1-0 win over Lech Poznan which puts him level with McCoist in the club’s European goalscoring list.
But Gerrard has said that it will be fairer to draw comparisons between the forwards when Morelos’ career is over.
Gerrard is quoted by The Daily Record as saying, “As I’ve said many times, that [equalling the record] doesn’t mean that all of a sudden he should be held in the same breath as McCoist, we have to be respectful over what’s gone before and recognise how successful Ally was.
“Ally scored a lot of goals in the Champions League which is obviously a higher level than the Europa. But they’re at different stages of their careers. When Ally broke the record he was older.
“Alfredo has the potential to play in the Champions League, there is no doubt in my mind that at some stage he’ll do that. It’s one for me where you compare both players at the end of Alfredo’s career. I don’t think it’s fair to draw comparisons just now”.
Morelos has three goals in five European outings this season and he will be looking to break McCoist’s record against Benfica on Thursday night. If he does break the record and help his side to a win it will represent a huge step towards qualifying for the knockout rounds of the Europa League.
The Colombian hasn’t had the chance to play in the Champions League since he moved to Ibrox, but if he stays for next season he may well have the chance.
UEFA have given the Scottish Premiership two places in Europe’s top competition from next season, meaning that even if the Gers don’t manage to win the title, a second-place finish would bring Champions League football back to Ibrox.
That being said, if Morelos can fire his side to the very late stages of the Europa League this season then he may start to truly be worthy of the comparison to one of Ibrox’s greatest ever players.
In other Rangers news, Neil Lennon has hinted at an anti-Celtic agenda from the Scottish government following their response to a Rangers statement.