Steven Gerrard calls for controlled aggression as Rangers stand on verge of all-time Scottish Euro record

Glen Kamara is one of three Rangers players, along with Borna Barisic and Kemar Roofe, one booking away from a Europa League suspension. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)

As if his Europa League statistics as Rangers manager weren’t impressive enough already, Steven Gerrard could notch up another eye-catching landmark at Ibrox on Thursday night.

A win or a draw in the second leg of the last 16 tie against Slavia Prague would set a new all-time Scottish record of 13 consecutive unbeaten games in European club competition, surpassing the undefeated 12-match runs previously achieved by Rangers under Walter Smith from 1991 to 1993 and then over two campaigns overseen by Alex McLeish and Paul Le Guen between October 2005 and December 2006.

That the recently crowned Premiership title winners have racked up the current sequence in a single season is testament to the standards set and maintained both at home and on the road in the Europa League under Gerrard.

Regardless of rewriting another page in the record books, the incentive of a place in next month’s quarter-finals, where potential opponents could include European heavyweights such as Ajax, Roma and Arsenal, is motivation enough for Gerrard.

Striker Alfredo Morelos and right-back Nathan Patterson will be key players for Rangers as they bid to overcome Slavia Prague at Ibrox on Thursday night. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

No half measures

It is why he will instruct his players to leave nothing on the pitch as they bid to complete a task started with last week’s 1-1 draw against the Czech champions in Prague. That demand will apply equally to the trio of Borna Barisic, Glen Kamara and Kemar Roofe who are all one booking away from a suspension which would rule them out of the first leg of a last eight tie.

Gerrard doesn’t want to see anyone on his team pulling their punches on such a momentous evening.

“My message to them is full commitment, don’t hold back,” he said. “Be aggressive in the right way. Forget about yellow cards or future games. Go and give me everything you’ve got in this game and let’s see what happens after the final whistle.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has urged his players to hold nothing back as they pursue a place in the Europa League quarter-finals. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)