Steven Gerrard gave an insight into what he wants from his Rangers players in a training session After being appointed as manager in May, the Liverpool legend has wasted no time in putting his stamp on the Glaswegian giants, drafting in the likes of Jon Flanagan, Alan McGregor, Scott Arfield, Ovie Ejaria, Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic in preparation for the new campaign at Ibrox. Gerrard's charges are currently training in Spain ahead of their first friendly game against Bury on July 6 and from a small clip doing the rounds on social media, you can see what he's trying to drum into the heads of his players from the off. Advert 10 "No phoneys who are pretending...just little crazy jogs in, watching the ball," Gerrard says passionately. "We go to win the ball - all over the pitch. Okay. Get it in your heads, now." Image: PA It might seem very basic stuff but it's something that Rangers seriously lacked last season - and their fans are buzzing to see their new gaffer immediately laying the law down: Advert 10 Fucking love this. There's no way we are walked over next year. - West Mids Loyal (@WestMidsLoyal) June 24, 2018 The mentality that's been missing for far to long. - Winkle (@Winklegers) June 24, 2018 Gerrard speaking to the players in training today "No little jogs in, we go to win the ball all over the pitch. Okay? Get it in your heads now. Press properly" :grin: - Ibrox Chat (@IbroxChat) June 24, 2018 It's the 'get it in your head now' :heart: - Graham (@specificgers) June 24, 2018 Advert 10 It's almost like we have a manager again - Lawrrard (@IamtheLaw_rie) June 24, 2018 Speaking upon his unveiling, Gerrard raised concern about the team's fitness levels - something he noticed when he watched games against dominant rivals Celtic. "The fitness is the thing that struck me most when watching them last season," he admitted to reporters. "You look at the group and areas where you can improve it and fitness is definitely one of them. Advert 10 "I watched Rangers with my own eyes close up in the game against Celtic and it was glaringly obvious to me that Celtic were fitter and stronger on that occasion.<doc-sep>STEVEN GERRARD has sent a stern warning to his Rangers stars over the high-pressing style he wants from them. Footage from the club’s pre-season training camp in Spain shows the Liverpool legend getting tough with his players over the desire required for Gers’ new approach. 2 Gerrard's orders to his Gers stars were hailed by fans Credit: Willie Vass Light Blues fans later hailed the clip, believed to be from Rangers TV. Gerrard says: “No phoneys who are pretending…just little crazy jogs in, watching the ball. “We go to win the ball – all over the pitch. Okay? “Get it in your heads, now.” 2 The Liverpool legend is chasing his EIGHTH Gers signing Credit: Willie Vass His message comes just days after the club’s new head of performance Jordan Milsom vowed to get the Gers squad fit enough to handle Gerrard’s aggressive style. Speaking to the club channel, Milsom said: "The manager’s style of play I think is going to be quite aggressive, both in and out of possession. “To play that way, you need to be able to physically cope with that, not only within a game, but repeated games. How to claim your FREE £10 bet 1 Register for Sun Bets here 2 Bet £5 or more 3 Sun Bets will stick a £10 bet in your account “If we want to be as successful as we want to be, that is going to involve playing 38 league games and hopefully a lot of cup games. “So we are talking of between 50 and 60 games competitively for Rangers, and then the international lads may have another 10 or so games on top of that. “We need to make sure the lads are capable of repeating those games and dealing with the stresses. “My job is to prepare them in the best way possible for those demands.” Rangers face Macedonia’s FK Shkupi in first-round qualifying for the Europa League next month. Gerrard is eager to make Roma striker Umar Sadiq his EIGHTH summer signing following deals for Scott Arfield, Allan McGregor, Jamie Murphy, Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic, Ovie Ejaria and Jon Flanagan. He has also been linked with moves for Liverpool youngsters Dominic Solanke, Ben Woodburn, Harry Wilson and Ryan Kent, and Man City’s Hibs loan ace Brandon Barker. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news, transfers and goals from Scottish football plus fixtures, results and live match commentary<doc-sep>RANGERS are back from their pre-season training camp in Spain as they gear up for the start of their European campaign. Steven Gerrard and Co spent ten days in Andalusia bonding and working on their fitness ahead of their meeting with FK Shkupi. 3 All eyes are on FK Shkupi as Gers land back in Glasgow Credit: Willie Vass How to claim your FREE £10 bet 1 Register for Sun Bets here 2 Bet £5 or more 3 Sun Bets will stick a £10 bet in your account The squad have jetted back into Glasgow, with Josh Windass uploading a picture of team-mate Jak Alnwick on the plane home on his instagram. After spending time abroad accessing his squad, Gerrard has admitted he wants new additions, but says the players are making his decisions tough. He said: "I am also aware that if we get the areas sorted out that we feel need sorted it will make the squad too big. "We will have to edge a few out and be honest with people and say to them that maybe they are not going to get the game time they want. 3 Gerrard worked the players hard while in Spain for ten day training camp Credit: Willie Vass "That is football at this time of year and all the players are aware of that. "But they are making it very tough because training has been very intense, it has been quality and everyone is pushing to stay here, which is a good thing. "If there is one thing that I am delighted with it is the application and focus and that people want to be here. "I'm not sure how it was before, but everything we have asked of them in terms of lifting standards and pushing, everyone wants to be part of it, which is great." 3 Windass uploaded snap of Alnwick on plane to his Instagram In preparation for their Europa League clash with FK Shkupi, Gerrard's men will face Welsh outfit TNS in a closed door friendly. And Gerrard admits the games with the seven-in-a-row Welsh champions and Bury are the time for earning a spot in his side. He told Rangers TV: "Against TNS and Bury we get going for real. "Players are starting to know now they're playing for positions and they don't want to get left behind because the squad's too big at the moment." Meanwhile, one player who may not be around for the new season is Josh Windass, with Cardiff City 'ready to trigger his £3million release clause'. SunSport first revealed the Bluebirds' interest on May 11 and it's believed the newly-promoted Premier League side have made Gers aware of their interest in the attacker. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news, transfers and goals from Scottish football plus fixtures, results and live match commentary<doc-sep>
Frank Lampard has spent the first part of this summer working for BBC Sport at the World Cup in Russia, despite his recent appointment as Derby County’s new manager, but his former BT Sport colleague Steven Gerrard is focusing solely on his job at Rangers. The Liverpool legend has been working tirelessly since putting pen to paper on his four-year contract with the Scottish giants on May 4. Gerrard has already brought in five players since taking the reins - Alan McGregor, Scott Arfield, Ovie Ejaria, Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic will be joined by several other new faces over the coming weeks - and is currently with the squad in Spain for a gruelling pre-season ahead of the team’s first friendly against Bury on July 6. Gerrard has been appointed to help close the gap on Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic, who wrapped up their seventh successive league title last season. But two matches between the old rivals towards the end of the 2017-18 campaign showed a huge gulf in class. Gerrard knows that bridging the gap will be far from straightforward. This is why he’s working his new squad extremely hard ahead of the new season. He believes that Celtic’s superior fitness levels has been a fundamental reason why they’ve dominated Scottish football in recent years. “The fitness is the thing that struck me most when watching them last season,” he told reporters earlier this month. Gerrard focused on improving Rangers' fitness levels “You look at the group and areas where you can improve it and fitness is definitely one of them. “I watched Rangers with my own eyes close up in the game against Celtic and it was glaringly obvious to me that Celtic were fitter and stronger on that occasion. “If you want to play at the top end and, fight for trophies, be in the running when the big prizes are given out, compete against the best the first thing you have to do as a footballer is be fit. “You need to be ready for the challenges at the top level. If the fitness is not there where do you go? It’s probably a good reason why Celtic have been quite successful.” Rangers fans are loving what Gerrard shouted at the players Judging by footage which is currently doing the rounds on social media, Gerrard is making it abundantly clear to his players that they won’t play unless they’re prepared to press ferociously both in training sessions and during matches. To press effectively you need a group of fit players - and that’s exactly what Gerrard wants once pre-season is over. Footage from Rangers’ latest training session in Spain shows Gerrard shouting at the players: “No phoneys who are pretending…just little crazy jogs in, watching the ball. “We go to win the ball – all over the pitch. Okay? “Get it in your heads, now.” These words are music to the ears of Rangers fans, who are delighted that Gerrard is giving the club’s players a tough time in training. Maybe we will see a much-improved Rangers team when the new season kicks off in just over a month’s time. News Now - Sport News