Steven Gerrard admits loan Ranger Bongani Zungu could have sealed his own Ibrox fate by breaking Covid rules.
The South African was one of three Ibrox first-team players, along with Nathan Patterson and Calvin Bassey, to breach strict protocols last Saturday night.
Along with academy kids Dapo Mebude and Brian Kinnear, they’ve been reprimanded by the club and are awaiting punishment from the SFA and SPFL.
Zungu is currently on loan from Amiens until the end of the season, with Gerrard having an option to buy the midfielder for around £2.6million.
He has failed to impress and after letting his manager down with a Covid breach, it looks unlikely Zungu will be at Ibrox next season.
When asked if he did his chances of earning a permanent move no favours last week, Gerrard replied: “I think that would be fair to say, yes.”
Asked how the rest of his Rangers squad have reacted to the incident, Gerrard said: “That will take care of itself and we’ll move forward with the players who have remained professional and want to be part of a successful team.
“We spoke as a group and I explained the situation to them.
“We’re at such an important time of the season with the fixtures coming up that we can’t be worrying about it or letting our focus slide.”
Gerrard’s side are in pole position to qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League and are just four wins away from the title.
He said: “Europe is very important to us. The league is the bread and butter but Europe is so important.
“I would love to have a domestic cup on my CV but financially, this club doesn’t function how we want it to without European funds.
“In years to come we may be capable of competing for European trophies but we have to be careful we don’t look too far ahead. We understand the supporters can get excited but we also have to be realistic about where we are.
“We have put ourselves in a really strong position against Antwerp to go and finish the job off.
“We’ll take each challenge as it comes but there’s no harm in aiming as high as you can.”
If Rangers go deeper into the Europa League and the Scottish Cup is given the go-ahead, Gerrard says the club could ask the SPFL for help in their fixture scheduling.
He said: “We have to wait until March 1 to see what the situation is with the Scottish Cup If that was to go ahead and we’re still in Europe we may have a conversation with the authorities.
“We’re fine with the schedule as it is. If you’re going to go far in Europe, you have to accept that it will be thick and fast, a lot of games.
“We have had enough experience of it together to handle it.
“I’m loving the journey and so are the players.
“The first leg in Antwerp was a proper game of football. I really enjoyed it, even if my heart took a bit of a battering.
“We’re on a great run (one defeat in 40 games). I played in some teams who had the same characteristics, who didn’t like the taste of defeat.
“Even 2-1 down at half-time in Belgium, there was a different feeling among these lads. I’m confident now
telling this group of players what they don’t want to hear because I know I’ll get the right reaction.”
