Kyle Lafferty has revealed what Steven Gerrard said in yesterday’s half-time team-talk to motivate the Rangers players to three points.
The Gers were 1-0 down at home to St Johnstone at half-time yesterday. It was a dismal first-half showing that the Rangers manager was furious with. Despite seeing plenty of the ball, St Johnstone had the better of the chances and could’ve been more than 1-0 ahead.
There was a noticable different in the tempo in the second-half. Lafferty came on as a substitute, but it was Alfredo Morelos who was the hero with yet another brace to take his goal-tally for the seson to 19.
Lafferty played his part in the win, however, and revealed in the Sun just how furious the Gers manager was at the break.
“The gaffer said at half-time ‘go and show who wants to be here and who wants to fight’.
“In the second half we showed every single member of the squad wanted to play for Rangers.
“I’ve come here and probably haven’t played as much football as I wanted to but I am ready to go and I want to play for this football club. It means everything to me.”
Gerrard’s demands on full show
It’s hardly the first-time Gerrard has expressed his fury at a Rangers performance since he’s arrived in Glasgow.
The standards the Liverpool legend sets won’t be achievable for everyone at the club. What’s important, however, is that the team is able to be motivated by the manager. It’s evident after yesterday that they were.
After matches against the likes of Spartak Moscow, Aberdeen, and Dundee, Gerrard has caned his players. He consistently refers to how they’re not playing for the jersey and that when they lose or draw it’s not the performance of a Rangers team.
This seems to get under his players’ skin, and a response always seem to occur the next week. Having a manager who knows just how to motivate his players is going to be key in any title-race.
Yesterday against St Johnstone was a game Rangers wouldn’t have won last season. It was too tough, too battling, and needed character that Rangers have lacked for the last two years.
Finally, however, it looks as though the club have a man who isn’t afraid to call it as it is.
