The Ibrox boss is pleased to see both Rangers and Celtic do well in European competition.
Coefficients are calculated based on the European results of clubs across the last five seasons of action, with a pooled average used to determine the coefficient of the nation as whole.
This is used to determine what rounds a country’s clubs enter both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
With Celtic and Rangers both reaching the group stages over the last couple of years, Scottish teams are due to eventually play less qualifiers if that kind of progress continues.
Gerrard is able to put rivalry aside and see that the Hoops doing well in Europe can in turn be a good thing for his club.
As quoted by The Evening Times, he said: “It’s good for the country, it’s good for the national team, it has a knock-on effect across the board.
“Obviously in this seat it’s very difficult to park an Old Firm rivalry up, but I have got to look outside that in terms of what can benefit you moving forward and if we benefit as a club then of course it’s fantastic.”
Asked if there’d be real benefits of playing less qualifiers, the Ibrox boss replied: “Of course, because it is two less games on your schedule, that potential banana skin when you are really not 100 per cent fit and not really firing.
“It’s two games where you have less chance of getting injuries because people are really not up to speed. So I would much rather go through three qualifiers than four, that’s for sure.”
How far can each team go?
Both clubs have already shown on matchday one in the group stage that they should have no fear heading into the other five games. Rangers picked up a 1-0 win over Feyenoord while Celtic managed to draw 1-1 away to Ligue 1 side Rennes.
The Glasgow duo looked comfortable in both matches. Gerrard’s side could have won by a bigger margin and Neil Lennon may have a tinge of regret they didn’t manage to go on and pick up a victory.
Reaching the knockout stages is viable for each party.
On the face of it Rangers have things a bit tougher considering they also have Porto and Young Boys in their group.
How it all pans out will be fascinating, with nothing certain and everything up for grabs.
The only think that can be banked on is that Scotland’s fortunes on the continent are improving.
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