Former Celtic manager John Barnes is certain that Rangers fans are intelligent enough to show patience with Steven Gerrard and give him more time to succeed at Ibrox, while noting the Gers are still just as big a club as the Bhoys, despite being behind on the pitch.
Gerrard has taken Rangers back to European football in his first season at the club and his side will open their Europa League campaign with an away game at Villarreal tonight.
However, Rangers’ league form has not been consistent and they are already seven points behind league leaders Hearts in the Scottish Premiership table.
Gerrard also lost the first Old Firm derby of the season and not many are expecting the Gers to challenge for the league title towards the business end of the campaign.
Barnes, who had a short stint at Celtic manager during the 1999/00 season, and understands the unforgiving nature of the environment in Glasgow for a rookie manager such as Gerrard.
However, he is confident that Rangers will show more patience as the fans are aware that Celtic are still quite a bit ahead when it comes to quality of their squad and the money they have.
The Liverpool legend believes the Gers have made progress under Gerrard, but the former Red will need time to take Rangers closer to Celtic.
Speaking about the environment Gerrard is working with in Scotland, Barnes told beIN Sports: “It’s an unforgiving environment.
“When I went up there Celtic were much closer to Rangers although they were the champions and they had more money.
“But we were much closer to them so the demands to win were probably greater than the demands on Steven because Rangers fans now understand that it’s going to be three or four years before they have the financial clout to be able to challenge Celtic.”
And Barnes noted the size of club Gerrard is in charge of, adding: “Rangers are equally as big a club as Celtic, but if you see the reality of the quality of the players and the salaries they pay, Celtic are streets ahead.
“So I think the Rangers fans are intelligent enough to understand that we have to give Steven time, we can’t expect him to come up here and challenge Celtic straightaway, we have to show progress, which they are doing and so the demands and expectations are probably different.
“When I went there it was we have to win the league this year but I don’t think Steven is that under pressure.”
Both Celtic and Rangers are in the Europa League group stage this season.
