Rangers boss Steven Gerrard gave the baying press some ammunition with which to gun the Ibrox boss down after he openly criticised American full-back and former Chicago Fire player Matt Polster.
Gerrard is routinely criticised by elements of the Scottish press for post-match comments concerning his players and he seemed fuming with Polster’s role in Leverkusen’s third goal in their 3-1 win at Ibrox.
Criticising Polster for failing to “take a yellow for the team” before Leon Bailey curled the ball past Allan McGregor, there’s been plenty of coverage of the comments since.
“At 2-1, you’re still thinking it’s not the end of the world, if we stay in their we might get a late equaliser,” said Gerrard [BT Sport live coverage Rangers v Leverkusen 12/03/20].
“But we’re extremely disappointed with the third. Polster’s gone to ground, he’s got to take the man down and take a yellow card for the team.
“If he doesn’t he’s got to run all the way back. He actually gets back but he’s got to do better in the 1v1.”
There’s little doubt Matt Polster should’ve done better but this is the first time he’s playing at such a high level and there’s an argument the American deserves a little more protection.
It isn’t the first time Steven Gerrard has taken a hardline approach after a player makes a mistake.
Gerrard was unimpressed with Niko Katic for his role in the 2-2 draw with St. Johnstone and the big defender has barely been seen in the Rangers side since.
There’s also been some inconsistency in Gerrard’s criticism of some players.
For example, Connor Goldson was heralded by the Rangers boss despite his horror show in the 1-0 loss to Hamilton.
Losing the third goal to Leverkusen was obviously a great source of frustration for Steven Gerrard and the Rangers support.
But the Rangers boss subbed Matt Polster on for James Tavernier and undoubtedly shoulders some of the blame here.
Away from demoralising players who are playing under him, is he not also just giving rivals and newspapers ammunition to attack him with?
