Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has revealed what he has learned from current Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, amid his recent success with Rangers.
After calling time on his playing career at the end of his solitary season with LA Galaxy in 2016, the former England international took up a coaching role in the Liverpool youth set-up, before being appointed manager of the Scottish Premiership side in 2018.
Despite rejuvenating a club that had been tormented by financial ruin and the dominance of rivals Celtic in recent years, Gerrard was unable to clinch the league title in his first two seasons at the club, setting up their Old Firm rivals for a possible Scottish record of ten league titles in a row ahead of the current campaign.
However, following what is currently an unbeaten league campaign, Rangers spoiled the party by romping to their 55th title – and first since 2011 – the triumph confirmed just over a week ago after the Hoops dropped points against Dundee United.
While they did lose to Slavia Prague in a controversial Europa League meeting in midweek, Gerrard’s men had enjoyed a fine European journey prior to that, in what’s been a remarkable season for the Glasgow side.
Such success had led to rumours of a potential return to Anfield amid the Reds’ current slump under Jurgen Klopp, although the 40-year-old has distanced himself from such speculation in recent weeks.
The former midfielder seemingly has huge admiration for the German, revealing that he has learned how to be ‘more balanced’ from observing the former Borussia Dortmund manager.
“One thing I learned from Jurgen is to try and detach yourself, and be more balanced around the results. He is a master of it. I am not. I am trying to get better at it,” he told The Telegraph.
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“I was an emotional player, I wore my heart on my sleeve. I feel results and want to be as authentic and real as I can. But as a manager you have to be more balanced.”
The Rangers boss also revealed that while he is happy where he is, he hinted that he does have a future plan for where he wants his managerial career to go.
“What’s next? I want to try and stay in the now, but I am always aware that there is a short, a medium and a long-term journey for me,” he says.
“I’m really happy in this job. The only real pressure in terms of my role is from my own family. My biggest challenge is to manage my home situation. My family don’t live in Glasgow, and it’s a case of me putting the hours on the road, being up and down. In terms of job satisfaction and being content, I’m proud to be in this position. I want more. The title has made me even more hungry and determined to add to that in the short and medium term. And who knows what comes after that?
“I know that is a question you have seen me answer in previous interviews, and I don’t want to add to any headlines. I think enough has been said on it.
“But I have got goals and targets and aims internally that I want to try to strive to achieve.”
While he did not name names, Gerrard also admitted that he has received ‘interest’ from elsewhere due to how he has performed in Scotland.
“There has been interest, and I don’t think I have to talk about where that comes from,” he says.
“All that does is that it tells me I am on the right lines. I am doing a decent job. My players are doing a decent job. I take it as a compliment.”
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