STEVEN Gerrard last night admitted he was satisfied at proving the doubters who had predicted Rangers would slip up in their difficult opening Premiership match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie wrong.
But Gerrard, whose side picked up all three points in their first competitive match in almost five months thanks to a first-half Ryan Kent goal, has told his players he is looking for an improvement going forward.
The Ibrox club travel to Germany this week for the second leg of their Europa League last 16 double header against Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday night and their manager knows they must perform better to come from 3-1 down and go through.
“It's a marker for us because all eyes were on us today in the first game,” he said. “When the fixtures came out everyone was saying: 'Oh, it's Aberdeen away, will they drop points?’
“There were questions on us today so we'll go away pleased at picking up three points and getting a clean sheet. But no-one will get carried away. Aberdeen ran us all the way to the end. We have to build on this now.”
Gerrard picked Alfredo Morelos, who has been linked with a move to French club Lille in recent days, in attack and the Colombian striker justified his selection by setting up Kent for his strike.
But his manager believes he can contribute more and must concentrate fully on performing well for Rangers.
“I thought in the main Alfredo did a good job for us,” he said. “He dropped in, overloaded the midfield area for us and listened to instructions.
“But we want him fitter and sharper. He had a couple of chances that, with more game time, he might have got on the end of and killed the game off for us.
“But it's important Alfredo stays focused on Rangers and playing well. The Rangers fans deserve that focus – whatever happens will happen.”
Gerrard expressed hope that he would be able to strengthen his squad with new signings imminently – but dismissed a report claiming that Rangers were poised to sign Young Boys and Cameroon forward Jean-Pierre Nsame.
“We're close on a couple of things that are brewing away but Nsame isn't a name we should be linked with,” he said. “There are many other names out there, but I can't control that. We can't go much longer with just one fit forward. I want one in yesterday.”
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