THE bigger the challenge, the greater the prize, the more Steven Gerrard thrives in the occasion. Now, he needs his players to do the same.
The visit of Hearts on Sunday – the first of eight games that Rangers will play this month – was dealt with comfortably as a 5-0 win took Gerrard’s side to within one goal of top spot in the Premiership.
Going to Pittodrie this evening is a very different proposition, as is the Betfred Cup final with Celtic at Hampden on Sunday. That fixture can wait for now, though.
Victory over Aberdeen could take Rangers ahead of their Old Firm rivals in the title race but it is the momentum that another win would bring that could be the most important factor.
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It is a game that Gerrard is accustomed to now and one that the 39-year-old looks forward to as much as any. He is confident his side share that perspective.
Gerrard said: “Good players, the best players, put their chest out. Whatever atmosphere, whatever environment they are in, whatever challenge is set, they go ‘yes, I fancy this.
“Bring it on’. That’s got to be the mentality throughout the whole month, but certainly against Aberdeen away.
“The best players, the good players, don’t shy away from that. They love it and they relish it.
“That’s how I want my players to approach this one. I want them to bounce up here, really fancy it and say ‘bring it on, come on’.”
Having what will undoubtedly be a combative and competitive 90 minutes at Pittodrie just days before his first cup final as boss could be seen as far from perfect for Gerrard.
That is the hand that Rangers have been dealt, though, and the Ibrox boss believes it is in fact the ideal situation as the big games keep on coming for the Light Blues.
“It’ll certainly help the players in terms of the week,” Gerrard said. “It’s good to have a focus and a tough challenge in front of us in Aberdeen.
“My experience of finals is that sometimes you can wait too long and have too much time on your hands. So, yeah, it is what it is. The fixture list is what it is. We have known all along that if we were to reach the final it would fall after this fixture.
“So I think the important thing for the players is to really live in the now. All you control is Aberdeen and your performance in Aberdeen and I expect is to go up there and show everyone what we are all about so it is a game we are really looking forward to.”
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The seven encounters between these old rivals last term provided more than their fair share of talking points and headlines but only two were won by Rangers.
Aberdeen were swept aside 5-0 at Ibrox in September but this meeting promises to be a far tougher match-up for the Gers as they head north with it all to play for.
Gerrard said: “Feisty’s fine. It’s fine for both sets of players. It does have a derby feel to it and there is a rivalry.
“We are fine with feisty and physicality and competing. That’s allowed.
“My players just have to channel it in the right way and make sure that we keep 11 men on the pitch. That’s the message in any game of football.
“The players have certainly improved so far but there is a lot of football to be played. So that will be the message again - compete, be physical and be aggressive, but do it in the right way.”
The win over Hearts on Sunday saw Rangers continue an impressive run that sees them without a defeat since the late Europa League heartache away to Young Boys in October.
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Those European ambitions are back on the agenda after the Old Firm final and Gerrard knows the importance of every victory at a crucial stage of the campaign.
“I’m very happy with the form,” he said. “The schedule has been tough for the players but they are embracing it, they are enjoying it and they are playing well.
“They are enjoying playing together. We just need it to keep going. Take each challenge as it comes and keep trying to be as consistent and as hungry as we can. They are the two main words we focused on in pre-season - consistency and showing our hunger in every game. “Not coming off it or letting complacency set in or underestimating anyone. Go really full throttle in every game and see where it takes us.”
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