Steven Gerrard was purring when he reflected on the emotion of the game against Royal Antwerp as his team edged a seven goal thriller.
It was a deserved win for Rangers who showed a lot of bottle to go for the win having equalised late on.
At today’s press conference, the Gers gaffer was asked about how he and his team respond to the up and down emotional aspect of the game.
He sat up and responded:
“I absolutely loved last night.”
“I love competiting at this level, it was a proper game of football with two teams full of talented players really going for each other and really wanting that victory.”
“It was an emotional game but thats how I like it.”
“They are the games that you want to be involved in.”
“The players loved it as well, I could tell after the game they were buzzing with the outcome.”
“I had to challenge them a bit at half time but they reacted really well.”
Rangers were unusually ponderous in defence which was a major factor in two of the goals conceded as well as a few other chances that Antwerp recorded.
Steven Davis was very harshly punished for making minimal contact with his opponent.
Despite the VAR system being in use last night, the penalty award was not overruled.
A massive second half saw Gerrard’s team rally and his subs were effective, making a desired positive impact on the outcome of the Last 32 encounter.
Ryan Kent made the difference, off the bench, as his stunning equaliser for 3-3 was followed up by his blocked strike resulting in his team’s second penalty of the game.
It was a moment of fortune as the Bulgarian referee’s erratic game continued.
Given the penalty he awarded for the home side in first half injury time, more than three minutes beyond the allotted four, it was the least that Rangers merited.