The long wait for Rangers to recapture the Scottish Premier League cup came to an end last season under the stewardship of Steven Gerrard. While the emotional and historical significance of ending Celtic’s dominance is huge, there was a big doubt whether they will repeat the magic this season. Early in the season, Rangers lost to Sparta Prague and Lyon. Steven Gerrard blamed the loss on the quality of the team; he claimed that the team needed to spend money to sustain their dominance.
The former Liverpool coach has done a good job considering his inherited type of team. In the last season before winning the league, the Rangers had dropped points in 17 games and lost by five and four goals to Celtic.
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Other teams that beat Rangers that season include Dundee, St Johnstone, Hamilton, Motherwell, and Kilmarnock. As they say, numbers don’t lie; here is Steven Gerrard’s record at Rangers.
- Games – 193
- Won – 125
- Draws – 42
- Lost – 26
- Goals scored- 406
- Goals conceded – 135
What Winning the Scottish Cup Meant For Rangers
Nobody doubted the leadership skills of Steven Gerrard but how first he took him to transform the team and end Celtic’s domination was exceptional. Another thing to be admired is that the board was ready to incur heavy losses to help the former Liverpool man build a formidable team.
It’s safe to say the trust that the Rangers board gave their former coach was all worth it. The millions that come with winning the league and booking a place in the Champions League have put them at the same level as Celtic. They now can woo top talents from across the world to join the club.
Unless a top European club comes knocking for a player, the Rangers will not lose their top talents. Apart from Germain Defoe and Cedric Itten, none of their influential players left the club. Germain Defoe’s contract came to an end while Greuther Furth recalled Cedric Itten.
The Reason For Gerrard Departure
Many theories have been told why Steven Gerrard wanted to leave after spending three seasons at Gaslow. In a recent interview, the former Liverpool captain insisted the main reason for leaving the Scottish club was to spend more time around his family. He also admitted that the lure to coach in the richest league in the world was too hard to resist.
His tenure for the Villans has been electrifying, managing four wins in six matches, pulling them out of relegation worries. Rangers FC also seems to have found the right rhythm; they sit five points clear of Celtic after 20 games.
Rangers Title Chances
Even though the Rangers’ current form is nothing compared to last season, they still sit five points ahead of their bitter rivals, Celtic. Rangers FC is set to retain the coveted Scottish league cup unless something tragic happens.
The Bhoys are on a good run and could close the gap if the Rangers keep dropping points. The last Celtic defeat came in September, a worrying statistic for Rangers. Inevitably, the club’s next coach after Steven Gerrard will want to hit the ground and replicate last season’s form.
Their defense this season is not as good as last season; they conceded 13 goals in their first 13 games. What this means for every goal Rangers score today, they concede at least one goal. To keep Celtic from catching up, he emphasizes their defensive stability. Perhaps the January transfer window also presents them a chance to add one or two quality players.
Rangers Fixtures and Expectations
The fans are still angry with Steven Gerrard leaving the club, but he did his part, and it was time for him to seek new adventures. That should not be the case considering he managed to stop the constant slaughter in the hands of Celtic. He is a young coach with big ambitions, and certainly, coaching a team like Aston Villa gives him a better platform to break the ceiling.
He should have done more for the club, but his tenure was nothing short of a success. Rangers’ board should have known that Gerrard’s departure at the club was a matter of time and should have had a plan. They should have a list of potential lists in place in readiness for Steven Gerrard’s departure, Kate Richardson.
Conclusion
To sum it all, Rangers surpass the expectation of many under Steven Gerrard. Not as far as the fans would have wanted, especially in the European competitions, but he managed to bring back Rangers to winning ways and broke Celtic’s dominance. Now is a chance for Rangers to forget about Steven Gerrard’s success and forge a brighter future without him. Now that they are doing well on the pitch, money will start flowing in, and they will have a level playing ground with Celtic to compete for players.
