STEVEN GERRARD has warned his players they won’t survive in a ‘cut-throat’ Ibrox environment if they don’t stand up to be counted in the aftermath of the Betfred Cup semi-final defeat to Aberdeen.
Rangers missed out on a chance to compete for the first silverware of the season as they went down 1-0 to the Dons at Hampden on Sunday.
Kilmarnock make the trip to Ibrox this evening as Gerrard’s side attempt to kick-start what has been a faltering Premiership campaign at times this term.
And the 38-year-old is well aware of the consequences of more adverse results for him and his players as he demands a positive reaction at Ibrox.
Gerrard said: "I watch closely and if they go into a shell then they've got a problem because you shouldn't be at Rangers if you go into a shell.
“It's the wrong place. They can't do it.
“There's been too many players here of late that are prepared to go into that shell. We can't have them round here. It can't happen.
“The business I am in, it is cut throat, it is brutal. If we keep suffering setbacks and results like that moving forward, I am not going to be here.
“You have to be blunt. It is cut throat, that is the way it is.
“Don’t sign up for it, don’t come here if you are not prepared to cope with that responsibility and pressure. You shouldn’t be here.”
Rangers went into the semi-final clash on the back of a goalless draw with Spartak Moscow that kept them top of Group G in the Europa League.
And Gerrard knows his side must rise to the challenge as they attempt to put their Hampden heartache behind them against Steve Clarke’s side.
He said: "I'd say so but not just in this game but moving forward. I was quite clear and blunt in the press afterwards.
“That's the way it is, we're at a big club and big clubs requires big players who step it up in big moments on big occasions.
“I thought out performance in general was pretty strong but there wasn't enough in the final third of quality and we got done by a classic sucker punch against the run of play. It was frustrating."
Rangers are fifth in the Premiership standings after nine matches but a victory at Ibrox would take them level on points with their visitors and could see them climb to second spot.
The Gers face St Mirren this weekend before hosting Motherwell after their trip to Moscow next week and Gerrard has his sights set on nine points before the international break.
He said: “It is definitely a target. I think we will start feeling better about ourselves [tonight] if we go and put in a performance and get three points to take into the weekend.
“It is one game at a time but if you are talking about the next block in terms of our league fixtures, it is three really good opportunities for us to go and take maximum points. But the focus at the moment is not St Mirren or Motherwell, it is Kilmarnock.”
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