Glasgow Rangers midfielder Ovie Ejaria, signed on loan from Liverpool, did not feature against Villarreal at Ibrox.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard
The Scottish Sun claimed on Thursday evening that Rangers manager Steven Gerrard had dropped Liverpool-owned Ovie Ejaria from the team against Villarreal for reporting late to training on Wednesday.
Ejaria, who joined Rangers on loan from Premier League club Liverpool in the summer transfer window, was an unused substitute during the Gers’ goalless dark with Villarreal at Ibrox in the Europa League.
Rangers manager Gerrard has made it clear that the 21-year-old was not dropped, but the Liverpool legend has confirmed that the midfielder did turn up late for training this week.
The former England international midfielder has also said that Ejaria was left out of the starting lineup against Villarreal due to tactical reasons.
Rangers told BT Sport about speculation on Ejaria: “He wasn’t dropped. He wasn’t dropped. If he was dropped, he wouldn’t have been in the 18.”
“It was tactical,” added Gerrard. “I felt like we would need legs, energy and aggression in the middle three areas of the pitch. It was totally down to that.
“Ovie was late a couple of days ago. He came and said sorry to me and the matter is over. “
Stats
Ejaria – who earns £104,000 per week as salary, according to Spotrac.com – has been playing well for Rangers this season following his loan move from Liverpool in the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old midfielder has scored one goal and provided one assist in 11 Scottish Premiership appearances and played in there Europa League matches for Rangers so far this season, according to Transfermarkt.co.uk.
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