THE balance between looking forward and back can often be difficult to strike. You may only be as good as your last game, but the next one is always the most important.
That has been the case for Steven Gerrard over the last couple of days. The Betfred Cup defeat to Aberdeen continues to dominate the agenda, but it is the visit of Kilmarnock that must be focused on now.
The fall-out from Hampden has seen Gerrard questioned and criticised like never before by Rangers supporters as everything from his team selection to his tactics have been analysed and debated.
The Gers could have gotten away with a timid performance if they had been able to secure a result but the 1-0 reverse that denied them a final berth compounded a hugely frustrating afternoon for everyone at Ibrox, and none more so than Gerrard.
It was undoubtedly a blow for the 38-year-old but it is one he is more than capable of recovering from and emerging stronger from. The challenge to his players is to do the same.
“I don’t want to suffer any more to make me learn and be better,” Gerrard said. “I don’t think you have to experience setbacks to improve.
“I am still trying, even after wins or when we put in big performances and maybe over achieve, to analyse and self-reflect to improve, of course.
“But, yeah, in general setbacks should make you stronger and there should be a reaction from it. I am really looking forward to [tonight] and the weekend to see what kind of reaction the players give.
“They are good lads, they are a good group, and nobody is feeling sorry for themselves or is in denial. Everyone understands and knows where we are and everyone is prepared to hopefully give that reaction.”
That healing process didn’t fully start until Tuesday morning when Rangers reported for duty at the Hummel Training Centre for the first time. It wasn’t quite the morning after the night before, but there would only have been one thing in their minds.
The wrongs at Hampden can never be righted for Rangers and the chance to lift the League Cup silverware has eluded Gerrard and his players.
There is still plenty to play for at home and abroad this term, however, and the response against Killie this evening will be telling for a support in need of a pick-me-up.
“We gave them a day off yesterday (Monday) to clear their heads,” Gerrard said.
“We didn't want anyone moping round or feeling sorry for themselves when they were recovering, so we gave them a chance to be with their families and get the result out of their system.
“We waited patiently for the session [on Tuesday] morning to see what kind of a reaction it was and it was good and positive. They look as if they are ready to go [tonight].
"I think when you come in to do a training session that might help, but the way it is these days with players it's a recovery day, there's a lot of time in the treatment room and the gym together so I think it was nice just to stay away from here and get it out of their system fired up and ready to go.
“We spoke to them at length after the game, I decided that was the best way to go forward.
“I think they are lucky in a way that the game is [tonight]. It's great to have a game after the setback and hopefully we can get back to winning ways."
For all the success he has savoured, Gerrard has had to deal with those feelings of what might have been on more than one occasion throughout his medal-laden career.
Now making his way in the dugout, it is only natural that would feel more of the strain and carry more of the burden than he did during his playing days.
That desire for improvement remains the same, however. The traits that stood him apart as a midfielder will stand him in good stead as a manager.
“I had a little look in the mirror to self-reflect,” Gerrard said. “I watched the game late on in the evening and watched it back.
“It looked how I thought it looked from the side. Sometimes you watch games and think ‘we were better than what I thought’ or ‘we weren’t as good as I thought’.
“The game looked how it did from the side and the criticism to the players isn’t in terms of the performance because I thought it was quite good.
“But you win games on that stage, at that level, at the business end and also in our own box. We lost it in our own box in a set piece, but we have to create more.
“To have that level of the ball and amount of the ball, and the areas we got in, there has got to be better quality up there.”
The opening months of his managerial career haven’t been without setbacks for Gerrard but the domestic pain has been offset somewhat by the European gains as Rangers have gone eleven matches unbeaten in the Europa League.
His side may sit top of Group G at present but it is their fifth place berth in the Premiership that is a more pressing concern. The visit of Killie, therefore, is an opportunity that can’t be passed up.
Gerrard said: "No, I haven't had [many setbacks] and we haven't had it as a group, the fans haven't had it - maybe Celtic was as close to it or on the same level.
“So yes it's a setback, it's a blow, there's no getting away from it. But the only way to put it right is to worry about what's in front of us rather than behind us.
“Kilmarnock is the first challenge for us. It's a good challenge because they are going well in the league and I know Steve well, he'll have them well drilled and difficult to play against. But I think this game more than any, is about what we do."
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