Allan McGregor and Pepe Reina have plenty in common, according to Rangers manager Steven Gerrard.
The Rangers goalkeeper has been the signing of the season so far for the club. Making a plethora of stunning stops since his arrival in the summer, McGregor is looking better than ever.
His performances have brought praise from all quarters. Team-mates at both club and international level have been quick to thank the work produced by the summer-signing, and rightfully so.
Gerrard, however, has went one better in his praise of McGregor this morning, Speaking ahead of a huge clash with Hearts at Tynecastle, Gerrard claims his number one is just like Reina.
“He’s similar to Pepe in many ways, I have the same trust in both of them.
“When someone was through on goal and Reina was there, I always felt he could bail us out. You get that same feeling with McGregor. To win the biggest games in any league, you need a top goalie.
“It was an area when I took over here that I was keen to strengthen.”
Shouldn’t be taken lightly
The comparison certainly isn’t one that should be taken lightly by McGregor or Rangers fans. Reina spent nine years as Gerrard’s team-mate in Liverpool, helping the club topple AC Milan in the Champions League final back in 2007.
The Spaniard has won three major tournaments with Spain, and has featured for the likes of Bayern Munich, Napoli, and is now at AC Milan in the final stages of what’s been a glittering career.
Gerrard hasn’t been one to shy away from giving his players huge praise in the past. He once spoke of how he was “jealous” of a Ryan Jack performance against Maribor this season. There’s no shortage of praise on offer for his players if they turn up their performance levels.
Interestingly, however, the Gers manager said he was looking to strengthen that area when he came in. That’s a bit of a blow to hear for Wes Foderingham, who had previously been first-choice for three years at Ibrox.
Whether he has a future under Gerrard remains to be seen. For now, however, McGregor continues to attract admiring glances and comparisons from all over.
