THE big European nights under the Anfield floodlights brought out the best in Steven Gerrard the player. As a manager, the matches at Ibrox will provide him with a different buzz, and a different opportunity.

A Europa League qualifying round tie with Osijek is some way from the stage where Gerrard once shone but the 38-year-old will treat the challenge with the same intensity this evening.

The dream of playing Champions League football remains a distant one for Rangers but it is ultimately one that Gerrard must aspire to in the coming years as he looks to help restore the Light Blues to their former glories. For now, though, it is the secondary European competition that is of primary importance for Rangers.

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A capacity crowd will roar the Gers on as they look to finish what they started in Croatia last week and turn a 1-0 away win into a third round meeting with Maribor or Chikhura Sachkhere.

The home support will have their own part to play in proceedings but Gerrard knows his players must lead the way at Ibrox.

“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 them to get behind the team, enjoy the night and take the roof off. 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 don’t really have a line or a message for them, but I hope my players turn up and give the message for me.

“That has got to be the goal for us. Obviously we have got to focus on this game but of course we understand the people that have gone before us have created this football club and there have been some incredible games of football here in Europe over the years.

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“Now it is our turn to try and bring some of that back. It is easier said than done and the teams in Europe are getting stronger and stronger each year. There are no easy games and this won’t be an easy game.”

Gerrard may no longer be able to pull on his boots and lead from the middle of the park but the feelings of excitement still come to the fore as kick-off approaches.

It was the search for that adrenaline rush that took him to Ibrox this summer. That familiar concoction of emotions will course through him as he stands on the touchline tonight.

“My days are done,” Gerrard said. “I joined in training yesterday and I was quite warm to be honest.

“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 job and the role that I am in, I am enjoying the pressure and the buzz. This is what I wanted, this is what I missed when I stopped playing, that pressure of having to deliver in big games.

“These 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.”

Ibrox proved to be anything but home sweet home for Rangers last season as a record number of points were dropped in the Premiership in front of their own crowd.

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That form must change if the Gers are to have any ambitions domestically or on the continent in the coming months.

And Gerrard believes his side are now better equipped to handle the mental challenge of meeting the demands from an expectant support.

“When I look at the squad last year, it doesn’t surprise me, no,” he said.

“I just think teams coming to Ibrox felt confident that they could beat what was in front of them.

“I believe we are different Rangers team. There have been a lot of personnel changes. I think the mentality and confidence has changed in a short space of time.

“I have got confidence that the standards have been raised. We can’t be a soft touch any more and having teams coming to Ibrox and dominating and controlling us in our own stadium. That can’t be accepted.

“We have to do the right due diligence. We are not just looking for talent. We are looking for the right type of person to bring in.

“We want players with a winning mentality. We want characters. We want players who want to play, who can still deliver under the pressure. Talent is not enough at this level.”

With that one goal advantage to their credit, courtesy of Alfredo Morelos’ header in the Stadion Gradski last week, Rangers are firm favourites to progress this evening.

Osijek showed they had enough about them to justify their confidence, however, and Gerrard and his players won’t take anything for granted at Ibrox.

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The result is all that matters for Rangers but the approach will give an insight into how far they have come in a short space of time.

Gerrard said: “We’re not going to mention the first goal but what I will say is that it’s important to start the game well and get the crowd with us.

“It’s our responsibility to lift the crowd and get them behind us. If we go 1-0 up nothing changes – we just keep trying to get a positive result.

“We’re not going into the game thinking about protecting a 1-0 lead – we’re going to win and treating the game separate to the first leg.

“We’re at home and we’ve spoken before about being difficult to beat at Ibrox.

“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.

“In the first half against Wigan we waited for the supporters, the game and the opposition.

“We can’t accept that. We have to start the game more aggressively.”