Rangers gaffer Steven Gerrard has given an insight into the behind-the-scenes changes he’s made in his debut season at the club.
Gers stunned the football world this summer by appointing the Liverpool legend as boss.
And he’s made progress on the park, with Gers securing second place and beating rivals Celtic twice at Ibrox.
Gerrard admits he’s disappointed not to guide the Light Blues to a trophy.
But speaking about improvements off the pitch, he told Rangers TV: “We’ve come in and tried to freshen things up, so we’ve tried to improve the training ground in the important areas.
“We’re trying to create an elite environment and with all due respect the place had become a little bit tired in certain areas.
“I think when we’re trying to attract players and sign players and also re-motivate the players that we inherited, it’s important that they see we are trying to make the place better.
“We have put in a brand new canteen and eating facilities, we’ve improved the gym so the fitness side of it as well.
“We’ve put a full-time doctor in, more physio and more masseurs. We’ve also introduced cryotherapy which helps with recovery. So the sports science department and the fitness and physio areas all got better.
“In the summer we’ll improve other areas of the training ground. There’s obviously a Desso pitch in now and we’ve made it more private so we can train in peace.
“So there’s a lot of work gone on here and there’s work about to start at Ibrox to make that a better place and to freshen it up and re-energise it.
“I’m really happy and pleased with the progress off the pitch.
“There’s a board meeting on the horizon as well, so we’ll get a flavour of how we’ve done from a financial point of view, but that’s not really my concern. Mine is to worry about what happens on the pitch.
“In terms of that, I think the squad is better and the team is better. We have made some progress and we have improved.
“I’m satisfied at the moment but at the same time I’m disappointed that we haven’t rewarded the supporters with a trophy.
“So from the trophy side of it we fell short and we have to be honest and open about that and analyse it.
“But in terms of where the team and the squad is now, 12 months in, I’m actually quietly pleased.
“When I came in I was hopeful, now I’m confident and really looking forward to producing.”
Gerrard’s Gers reached the Europa League group stage but were knocked out of the League Cup and Scottish Cup by Derek McInnes’ Aberdeen.
He added: “For me, I was in no doubt about the size of the challenge and the magnitude of what I was coming into.
That hasn’t surprised me and I’ve really enjoyed the ride.
“There have been some incredible highs and there have been some bumps and bruises and cruel lows along the way as well. I expected that.
“But the buzz I’ve got, the adrenaline and the confidence and hunger to go and make it better and build on the progress we’ve made, I’m sitting here really excited.”
Gers stunned the football world this summer by appointing the Liverpool legend as boss.
And he’s made progress on the park, with Gers securing second place and beating rivals Celtic twice at Ibrox.
Gerrard admits he’s disappointed not to guide the Light Blues to a trophy.
But speaking about improvements off the pitch, he told Rangers TV: “We’ve come in and tried to freshen things up, so we’ve tried to improve the training ground in the important areas.
“We’re trying to create an elite environment and with all due respect the place had become a little bit tired in certain areas.
“I think when we’re trying to attract players and sign players and also re-motivate the players that we inherited, it’s important that they see we are trying to make the place better.
“We have put in a brand new canteen and eating facilities, we’ve improved the gym so the fitness side of it as well.
“We’ve put a full-time doctor in, more physio and more masseurs. We’ve also introduced cryotherapy which helps with recovery. So the sports science department and the fitness and physio areas all got better.
“In the summer we’ll improve other areas of the training ground. There’s obviously a Desso pitch in now and we’ve made it more private so we can train in peace.
“So there’s a lot of work gone on here and there’s work about to start at Ibrox to make that a better place and to freshen it up and re-energise it.
“I’m really happy and pleased with the progress off the pitch.
“There’s a board meeting on the horizon as well, so we’ll get a flavour of how we’ve done from a financial point of view, but that’s not really my concern. Mine is to worry about what happens on the pitch.
“In terms of that, I think the squad is better and the team is better. We have made some progress and we have improved.
“I’m satisfied at the moment but at the same time I’m disappointed that we haven’t rewarded the supporters with a trophy.
“So from the trophy side of it we fell short and we have to be honest and open about that and analyse it.
“But in terms of where the team and the squad is now, 12 months in, I’m actually quietly pleased.
“When I came in I was hopeful, now I’m confident and really looking forward to producing.”
Gerrard’s Gers reached the Europa League group stage but were knocked out of the League Cup and Scottish Cup by Derek McInnes’ Aberdeen.
He added: “For me, I was in no doubt about the size of the challenge and the magnitude of what I was coming into.
That hasn’t surprised me and I’ve really enjoyed the ride.
“There have been some incredible highs and there have been some bumps and bruises and cruel lows along the way as well. I expected that.
“But the buzz I’ve got, the adrenaline and the confidence and hunger to go and make it better and build on the progress we’ve made, I’m sitting here really excited.”