Ibrox club Glasgow Rangers manager Steven Gerrard played under Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez at Liverpool.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has made the Ibrox club’s defence stronger this season, and the Liverpool legend seems to have thanked Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez’s influence on him, as quoted in The Scottish Sun.
Gerrard, who was appointed as the Rangers manager earlier this summer, worked under current Newcastle manager Benitez at Liverpool.
The Spaniard guided the Reds to Champions League success in 2005 as well as to the final of Europe’s premier club competition in 2007.
Rangers are just a tie away from progressing to the group stage of the Europa League, and the Gers’ success in Europe has been based on a solid defensive foundation.
The Scottish Premiership club have kept clean sheets in Shkupi, Osijek and Maribor, and Rangers manager Gerrard seems to have credited Benitez for that.
Gerrard told The Scottish Sun: “You certainly try to dig into previous experiences as a player and coaches you worked under.
“Rafa Benitez was the master of defending away in Europe, and being hard to play against, then using the power of Anfield in the home leg.”
The Liverpool legend added: “When you come up against Rangers now we’re hard to beat and organised, and have players who are prepared to put their body on the line. I think we have got that at the moment, but it is important we continue it.”
Strong start
Rangers are unbeaten this season, and while that is great, one must not forget that it is still August.
The Gers have not qualified for the Europa League group stage yet, and Celtic are still the team to beat in the Scottish Premiership in terms of the title.
It cannot be denied, though, that Rangers are better and more confidence under Gerrard than they were last season.
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