MARCO Negri believes training alongside Jermain Defoe at Rangers has helped Alfredo Morelos to conquer the disciplinary problems that saw him sent off five times last season – but has warned El Bufalo there are still areas of his game he needs to improve.
The Italian - who has worked as a specialist striker coach, including for Serie A club Udinese, since retiring from playing - has been impressed with how Colombian forward Morelos has kept his fiery temper under control in recent weeks.
The 23-year-old scored 30 goals in all competitions in the 2018/19 campaign, but he was repeatedly red carded, including in important games against Ufa, Aberdeen and Celtic, and picked up lengthy three and four game bans as a result of his combustible nature.
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Negri feels that Defoe, the 57-times capped England internationalist who moved to Glasgow on an 18-month loan last January, has been a positive influence on his team mate even though the duo don’t play together regularly.
“Defoe has scored over 100 goals in the Premier League in England,” he said. “His experience can feed Morelos. He will have helped him improve his attitude.
“Everybody makes mistakes, but that is especially true when you are young. Morelos is a South American player so maybe he has a different attitude to European players. But the most important thing when you make a mistake is not to do them again. You go forward and develop.
“It’s a very important part of the game – staying on the pitch. If you are out you can’t help yourself, you can’t help your team. If he stays on he can play, score and win the game for his side. Morelos will have seen how Defoe trains and plays and will have learned from him.
“Can Defoe and Morelos play together? It will be good to see. But the most important thing is for a coach to have many different solutions and ways to win a game.
“Morelos is very powerful, very good when he has a lot of space in front of him. He can certainly score. But he can develop. For me, he has a lot of room to be better."
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Negri still follows the fortunes of the Ibrox club, who he played for back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, closely and has been pleased to see them enjoy under Steven Gerrard since the Englishman was appointed as manager last year.
The 48-year-old is hopeful they can reach the knockout rounds of the Europa and prevent Celtic from winning their ninth consecutive Scottish title in the coming months.
“I am happy now that they are back at the top,” he said. “They have got a great a great side with great players again this season. They are involved in European football. It will be fascinating seeing how they do. I hope they can really challenge for the championship this season.”
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