Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has described being told by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to “try things, make mistakes and get it horribly, wildly wrong” as the “best managerial advice”.
The Ibrox gaffer is almost two seasons into his spell at Rangers and few will argue that for a portion of his spell he has brought the good times back to Ibrox.
But there are still question marks over Gerrard’s ability to lead the team in Scotland.
The Rangers manager remains trophyless and the Anfield legend has been unable to break Celtic’s domestic dominance, even if he has guided Rangers to the last-16 of the Europa League.
Gerrard has been forced to remain calm during the most tumultuous spell of his Ibrox tenure and he reflected on the advice Klopp gave him at the beginning of his journey.
“The best thing I ever did was to go away from the cameras in the beginning,” said Gerrard [UEFA].
“I had a real honest and open conversation with Jurgen Klopp for a couple of hours and the advice he gave me was: ‘Don’t go into this as Steven Gerrard with the name on your back.
“Go back to the beginning and strip it back like a car. Get your pitch confidence and get used to tactics and different formations. Try things, make mistakes and get it horribly, wildly wrong.
“Experiment and do all these things away from the camera but before you test yourself in the Europa League before you test yourself in front of thousands and thousands of fans – put yourself in a better position before you go in there.
“Because I’ve seen tons of footballers with their names on their backs go in there and it doesn’t work.’
“That was the best bit of advice. I don’t think I will ever get a better piece of advice than that. Strip it right back and go back to the beginning.
“I have made mistakes over the last couple of years as Rangers manager but the trick is to learn from them.
“But this is a job where it’s impossible not to make them because you’re up against so many other good coaches.”
It’s good to know the great Jurgen Klopp is on Gerrard’s side but the Rangers manager will be living on borrowed time if he can’t chip further away at Celtic next season.
With the season halted due to the coronavirus, uncertainty remains over when football will return to Scotland and if this season will be finished.
But Steven Gerrard must heed Klopp’s advice when all is said and done if he is to truly leave his mark at Rangers and return the club to domestic glories.
