Steven Gerrard has refused to criticise his Rangers players following their Europa League exit tonight, and promised his side will comeback stronger in next season’s competition.
The Ibrox club were on the brink of making it to the knockout stages of the competition going into tonight’s final group match, but needed to win away to Rapid Vienna.
After a tense game in Austria, the tie was eventually decided by a Dejan Ljubicic goal in the 84th minute, after Rangers had gone so close to taking the lead earlier in the contest.
In the end, Vienna and Spanish cracks Villarreal progress, but Gerrard isn’t lambasting his players – at least not in public, anyway:
"We will come again in Europe and next year we will be better."
Steven Gerrard is proud of how far his Rangers side have come during their European run.
🔵⚪️🔴 pic.twitter.com/9i7SacqCrI
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 13, 2018
Steven Gerrard thought Rangers 'were good for 80 minutes' and he 'couldn't ask the players to do any more'. 'It's very hard for me to criticise the players for what they game tonight'
— Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) December 13, 2018
Steven Gerrard 'the reality is at this level we fell a bit short'
— Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) December 13, 2018
Spoke to Steven Gerrard post match & he’s obviously disappointed the European run is over. Praised his players for the campaign & said they’ll strengthen & come back stronger next season.
Also confirmed Umar Sadiq has left the club. Hear from him on @btsportfootball from 10 #RFC pic.twitter.com/cDCwmSHEz3— Emma Dodds (@Sports_EmmaD) December 13, 2018
Given the promising start they made to life back in the Europa League, should Rangers have qualified for the knockout stages?
And how much responsibility should Gerrard take for the missed opportunity?
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