THE phrase ‘let’s go’ has become the motto of the Steven Gerrard era as Rangers prepare for a new dawn with the Liverpool legend at the helm.

In his first press conference since he was unveiled at Ibrox last month, Gerrard didn’t need to use the catchphrase again. His words and his demeanour said it all.

The coming campaign will be one of firsts for a man that has seen and done it all as a player. Now, as a manager, he is entering uncharted territory.

Gerrard will take his squad to Spain this weekend for a training camp as his preparations for the Europa League qualifiers and start to the Premiership are stepped up once again.

Rangers have yet to discover their European opponents but the path to potential Premiership glory was laid out on Friday morning as the fixture list was revealed.

It certainly made for interesting reading, with the Light Blues facing trips to Aberdeen, Motherwell and Celtic in the opening four weeks.

The visit of St Mirren on the second weekend will be Gerrard’s first league match in charge at Ibrox.

The 38-year-old isn’t fazed by the challenge or ruffled by what many would perceive as a tricky opening handful of fixtures. Instead, he is ready and raring to go.

“Do you think? I’m happy,” he said when it was put to him it looked like a tough start to the season.

“I’m excited. I love big games.

“If you want to play for Rangers then looking at those first four fixtures should excite you.

“They should make the shoulders go back. If I was still a player then I would love those first four games.

“Three of them are away from home, including the Old Firm and Aberdeen away on the first day.

“And we all know the rivalry between the two clubs.

“There are going to be tough challenges throughout the season and three come in the first four games.

“Let’s get ready for it. We are going to have to face them all throughout the season anyway. It doesn’t matter what order they come in. We can’t control that. All we can control is to get in the best shape we can. To get fitter, stronger and better."

After returning to Glasgow on Wednesday to get down to business, Gerrard spent several hours on Thursday meeting staff at Ibrox and the Hummel Training Centre. On Friday, he addressed his players.

The first impressions have been formed and now the relationships will be forged on the continent.

Gerrard said: “I will learn a lot about them in the next ten days. I have also learned a lot about them in the first three hours.

“As a manager you are scrutinising every single move they make on and off the pitch. We are learning all the time but a month in I will be in a better position to know them better and the relationship will be stronger and tighter. “

That meeting with his squad has been a long time coming for Gerrard.

It is more than a month since the cameras flashed and the fans chanted his name during his unveiling at Ibrox but he can finally get on with the job he has signed up to do for four years.

Some of the players he spoke to won't see out the summer, never mind the duration of his contract, but Gerrard hopes there was a buy-in from those he will rely on this season.

Gerrard said: “I have been waiting a long time to actually deliver it and I have had a long time to think about it.

“I think the important thing is not to make it too long and give them too many things to think about. The important thing was to be clear.

“I think they know, they are bright lads, they are educated, they have been around the game for a while, and they know what needs to happen here. There needs to be change, there needs to be improvement in a lot of areas.

“The most important thing was to introduce myself and my staff, give them a plan for before we go to Spain and the next ten days there will be very important in terms of giving more detailed information.”

Gerrard is no stranger to making headlines or being a key figure at a club but he will find himself under an unfamiliar scrutiny now that he is in the dugout rather than on the park.

His appointment was a statement of intent from Rangers and a shot in the arm to Scottish football.

Once again, the former Liverpool and England captain is the centre of attention and the man that players and supporters will rally round.

He said: “The last 48 hours has been a bit mixed, really, in and around the city. The last four to six weeks has been a whirlwind, I’m not going to lie to you.

“It happened really quickly from the first contact when Liverpool told me Rangers were interested. All of a sudden, I was in front of you guys getting unveiled.

“It was a long four weeks from that point to get to this point because I wanted to get started, wanted to get the ball rolling.

“Having four weeks to kill in that time was quite tough but now it is here I am delighted. I am really looking forward to the challenge and I hope the players feel the same way.”