‘I’m really proud’: Gerrard wowed by Rangers man he had ‘long conversation’ with

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Well, Rangers clearly got their replacement for Steven Gerrard spot on last year.

Gerrard quit the Gers earlier this season to take the vacant Aston Villa job in the Premier League.

Bear in mind that the iconic Liverpool midfielder had led Rangers to a 55th Premiership title last season, immortalising himself at the club forever.

Some supporters of the Ibrox outfit were bitterly disappointed to see him leave so soon after establishing the light Blues as the dominant force in Scottish football once again, but the club is in safe hands.

On Thursday, Giovanni van Bronckhorst led Rangers to a Europa League final, beating Red Bull Leipzig 3-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate, having lost the first leg in Germany last week.

And Gerrard has revealed via The Scottish Sun that he’s immensely proud of his successor, adding that he had a ‘long conversation’ with the Dutchman shortly after taking the job.

He said: “When Gio took over I had a long conversation with him and told him that he was inheriting a fantastic squad full of great players, great boys, great spirit and togetherness. I’m really proud of the job that he’s done. I’m really proud of the players. I do know them well and I’m delighted for them. I hope they can go and achieve something extremely special.”

Extremely special

And they could achieve something ‘extremely special’, too.

There’s nothing to fear for Rangers in the final, where they’ll face Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville on May 18.

Van Bronckhorst has masterminded victories over much better German sides this season, including Borussia Dortmund and, of course, Leipzig.

Both are much higher than Frankfurt in the Bundesliga table and that, in theory, could give the Gers a major edge when it comes to the showpiece.

It’s been a poor domestic season for Rangers, even if they win the Scottish Cup.

Celtic are all but guaranteed to win the Premiership title, but a Europa League crown would make it an insanely-good first season for Van Bronckhorst in Glasgow.