Jermaine Defoe insists Rangers are improving under Steven Gerrard despite Gers being on course for EIGHTH season without trophy

Jermaine Defoe insists Rangers are improving under Steven Gerrard despite Gers being on course for EIGHTH season without trophy
Jermain Defoe has insisted Rangers are making progress under Steven Gerrard despite seeing their trophy hopes fade for another year.The Gers are set for an eighth straight season without a major piece of silverware after crashing out the Scottish Cup to Aberdeen.3

Defoe believes progress is being made with Rangers

Derek McInnes’ well-drilled Dons have been a thorn in the Light Blues’ side all season, having also ended their Betfred Cup bid.Rookie manager Gerrard arrived in May last year promising to make the Ibrox faithful happy, but with his side also eight points adrift of Ladbrokes Premiership leaders Celtic, he now admits he will face scrutiny over his performance as boss.But Defoe has seen enough in the two months since he joined the club on loan from Bournemouth to leave him convinced that exciting times lie ahead. The 36-year-old said: “Fans are going to be frustrated, just like the players. This is a massive football club and when you’re playing for a big football club, there’s big demands.“You have to play well every game. The fans expect you to win, expect you to progress in these kinds of tournaments.“But, I think in the short space of time I’ve been here, watching other games on TV and stuff like that, I wouldn’t want to be in other dressing rooms.“I think if you look at the quality we’ve got in the dressing room, the international players we’ve got, it’s a time for the football club to be excited.“The fans should be excited.

LIVE on talkSPORT

There are 10 live commentaries remaining across the talkSPORT network this week. Find out what they are and when you can hear them, below...

• Bayern Munich vs Liverpool (Wednesday)  talkSPORT
• Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa (Wednesday)  talkSPORT 2
• Dynamo Kyiv vs Chelsea (Thursday)  talkSPORT 2
• Watford vs Crystal Palace (Saturday)  talkSPORT
• Leeds vs Sheffield United (Saturday)  talkSPORT 2
• West Ham vs Huddersfield (Saturday)  talkSPORT 2
• Swansea vs Manchester City (Saturday)  talkSPORT
• Wolves vs Manchester United (Saturday)  talkSPORT
• Millwall vs Brighton (Sunday)  talkSPORT 2
• Fulham vs Liverpool (Sunday)  talkSPORT

“Yes, it’s a disappointment after the Aberdeen defeat, but I just think it can take time for things to build.“You can get the best players in the world and put them together. But it’s not going to become an unbelievable team overnight. Sometimes it takes time.“And you’ve seen that with the best teams and best players.“But if I was a Rangers fan, watching the games on the terraces with a season ticket, I’d definitely be excited. It’s a club and a team definitely going places.”The early signs of Gerrard’s reign looked so promising as he steered his side through four qualifying rounds to seal a place in the Europa League group stages.3

Gerrard’s side are second in the league

And while McInnes’ team have had the upper hand in cup competitions, Gerrard is on course to re-establish Rangers as the country’s second force having built up an eight-point lead over the third-placed Dons in the table.Defoe admits transforming Rangers into a side capable of lifting cups and titles will be a longer-term project.“Of course it’s a building process,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who the manager is. Obviously the manager is a winner. Look at his playing career and everything he’s won – he’s a winner.3

Defoe has scored five goals in eight league games for Rangers

“You can imagine how he feels after the Aberdeen defeat. He’s brave, he’s going to take it, take all the blame himself.“But, at the end of the day, you guys don’t see how hard everyone works behind the scenes. Not just the manager, but the staff and everyone.“It’s going to take time but I’m confident we’re definitely moving forward. It’s just a massive disappointment losing to Aberdeen.”

---

Every Premier League club's run-in ranked - from hardest to easiest with three games to go. Which clubs have got the best chance of improving their positions? By Anton Stanley
Every Premier League club's run-in ranked - from hardest to

---

Liverpool midfielder Ovie Ejaria has urged Dominic Solanke to join him on loan at Rangers should the chance materalise in the January transfer window. Ejaria joined Anfield legend Steven Gerrard at Ibrox in the summer alongside winger Ryan Kent, and Rangers have now been heavily linked with a
Rangers target Dominic Solanke urged by Liverpool pal Ovie

---

'Why would I sign a contract with Chelsea? I am not even speaking to them' ANTONIO RUDIGER has confirmed he is not in talks with Chelsea over signing a new contract.

---

LUIS SUAREZ is preparing to take on Manchester United at Old Trafford having not scored an away goal in the Champions League since 2015. The Barcelona star, 32, hasn't scored away from the Nou Camp in Europe since netting against Roma in September 2015.
Champions League best bets: Manchester United to struggle

---

Condition of the surface will have been affected by the NFL games that have taken place at the national stadium during the last two weekends. Uncertainty over pitch before Spurs-City - sources
Why Spurs, Arsenal and Man Utd should all worry next season

---

Chelsea left back Marcos Alonso meets up with friends for a meal after being banned for Burnley trip. The FA have hit Chelsea left back Marcos Alonso with a three-game suspension
Juve's Alex Sandro vs Chelsea's Marcos Alonso: A Statistical

---

Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho falls flat on his backside after opening ice hockey match in Russia Nelson Oliveira injury: Reading striker's wife blasts Tyrone Mings for stamp
Mourinho humiliated by fall at Russian hockey league face-off

---

Arsenal manager Unai Emery is fined £8,000 by the Football Association for kicking a bottle which hit a Brighton fan. Arsenal boss fined £8,000 by FA for kicking water bottle towards fans.
Arsenal news: Unai Emery fined £8,000 for kicking bottle

---

April Fool's: Liverpool star signs for Everton, Roman Abramovich becomes Chelsea manager and other great football pranks the Russian planned to name himself the next Chelsea manager. We even got ex-Blues boss Gianluca Vialli to confirm that Abramovich had been in contact for advice on being a manager, with the Italian informing us he wanted
liverpool Archives | Latest News, Latest football transfer

---

Report: Premier League asking Spurs to play last five home matches in new stadium or stay at Wembley New, 23 comments It's not a mandate, but the league wants an end point for Spurs' use of
New Spurs stadium: Latest stunning photos - football.london

---

Crystal Palace could see one of their misfits leave the club in the January transfer window. According to a report by Takvim, Fenerbahce are keen on taking Jairo Riedewald on loan as the player
Celta Vigo target move for Crystal Palace midfielder Jairo

---

Whose idea was it to have a mud bath? Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to play at Old Trafford again as he pulls on boots for legends game against Bayern Munich to celebrate 20th
20 April 2018 News Archive | Daily Mail Online | Daily Mail

---

Netherlands vs England: Ronald Koeman believes he has two

---

How far every Premier League club's players have run this season

---