A new pair of Adidas predators turned up in Steven Gerrard’s possession this week. While the footwear was swiftly whisked out and christened at training, the closest the England and Liverpool legend will get to the action at tonight’s Europa League second leg tie against Osijek of Croatia is directing matters and kicking every ball from the touchline.

“My days are done but I joined in training yesterday and I was quite warm to be honest,” said Gerrard. “I kicked a few of these young lads for 20 minutes. I have got new boots and it makes you want to play even more when the new boots come in.

“Listen, I am enjoying the role I am in, I am enjoying the pressure and the buzz,” he added. “This is what I wanted, this is what I missed when I stopped playing, that pressure of having to deliver in big games. These guys are the lucky ones that can go out and play in front of one of the best atmospheres in world football. If that doesn’t excite you or float your boat as a player then you are in the wrong place.”

Read more: Steven Gerrard impatient for final few arrivals at Rangers​

While the Ibrox side returned from Croatia with a creditable one-goal lead courtesy of a cleverly worked corner routine and a smart header from Alfredo Morelos, Gerrard accepts the Croats are dangerous opponents and admits that this could be a nervy night for everyone. With a sell-out crowd set to throng Ibrox for the occasion, Gerrard declined to give a message to the club’s supporters. Instead, he reckons his players should send that out by starting the match with an intensity which might surprise their Eastern European visitors.

“I think nerves are good and nerves mean that you are involved in big football matches,” he said. “Nerves are part of the buzz for me. We want the fans to get behind the team, enjoy the night and take the roof off. But in terms of messages, I don’t think I should give them a message. I think my players should give them a message in the opening stages of the game and start well and play at an intensity and play some nice football. I hope my players turn up and give the message for me.”

Gerrard, of course, isn’t the first manager to say he wants Ibrox to become a fortress again. Pedro Caixinha and Graeme Murty both outlined similar themes early in their reigns, only for the club to go down on home soil to the likes of Hamilton, St Johnstone and Kilmarnock. Gerrard feels he is assembling a squad which is made of sterner stuff. Going into a match defending a one-goal lead can do funny things to a team so he has banned all talk of it.

Read more: Steven Gerrard impatient for final few arrivals at Rangers​

“When I look at the squad last year,” he says, “it doesn’t surprise me. I just think teams coming to Ibrox felt confident that they could beat what was in front of them. I believe we are a different Rangers team.

“There have been a lot of personnel changes,” he added. “I think the mentality and confidence has changed in a short space of time. I have confidence the standards have been raised. We can’t be a soft touch anymore and having teams coming to Ibrox and dominating and controlling us in our own stadium. That can’t be accepted. The crowd are educated – they know what we are trying to do and I’m sure they will be with us from start to finish and that will be a huge help to the players. They can take confidence from it – but it’s our responsibility to give them something.”

While Gerrard has Scott Arfield and Umar Sadiq back in the squad, Osijek warmed up for the match by winning their league opener 4-1 against Hajduk Split. While the Englishman makes light of any tittle tattle in the tabloids from the Croatian camp in the last few days – midfielder Robert Mudrazija bizarrely said he looked like a ‘tiny man’ – some dangers are real enough; left-sided Borna Barisic narrowly missed out on Croatia’s second-placed World Cup squad and will have to be kept a close eye on. “He has six or seven caps for Croatia and we all know how well they are doing as a national team and rumour has it he will be in the selection come September so he’s a good player,” said Gerrard. “He has a lovely profile and left foot but we handled him better as the game went on. He is one of their main threats and is very strong as a good footballer.”

Read more: Steven Gerrard impatient for final few arrivals at Rangers​

Perhaps the best sign for Rangers thus far is that - compared to the 17 goals shipped in their last six matches last term - no longer are they giving gifts away. The club’s reshaped back line have yet to concede this season and as long as that continues the bells and whistles can wait. ‘I’m very happy with base, how we are looking in terms of shape and organisation,” he said. “I’m experienced enough to know the final touches and what always comes a little later. If you had asked me if would be happy with the place we’re in now when I first started the job, I would say I am very pleased and satisfied. But there is still a lot work to do.”