Steven Gerrard has criticised his players publically after Rangers lost to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
Almost on a week-by-week basis, we are learning more and more about Steven Gerrard the manager.
The Liverpool and England legend is in his first season in senior management having taken over at Scottish Premiership powerhouses Rangers in the summer.
And while Gerrard has brought about some real improvements at Ibrox, he has not been shy about airing his grievances on occasions – particularly in the aftermath of the 1-0 Scottish League Cup semi-final defeat against Aberdeen.
Gerrard was less than impressed by Rangers display against The Dons and has warned his players that they will be replaced if they fail to prove that they can step up when required.
And, speaking to Jim White on talkSPORT (31 October, 11am), the outspoken former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan questioned whether there is any real difference between Gerrard’s approach and Jose Mourinho’s oft-criticised tendency to call out his players in public.
“I would think nothing less of a manager for doing that as Gerrard did after the semi-final yet Mourinho is seen as the darkness that blights everybody’s landscape,” Jordan said.
“Gerrard is getting a little bit of a pass because he had a go at his own players. He was the one criticising his own players.”
Under-fire Manchester United manager Mourinho has lambasted the likes of Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba and Phil Jones in the media of late and received plenty of criticism from some quarters as a result.
There is a fine line between motivating players and alienating them. And it remains to be seen what response Gerrard’s comments have on the Rangers squad.
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