Rangers: Steven Gerrard says Champions League exit will have 'impact down the line'
- Published
Steven Gerrard's side have lost three games in a row
Steven Gerrard admits that Rangers' shock Champions League exit to Malmo could lead to players being sold by the Scottish champions.
But the manager insists that he has had no indication that the Scottish champions are "in a hurry" to sell.
Reaching the Champions League group stage would have earned more than 拢30m.
"I am not naive enough to sit here and think that the last two results won't have an impact somewhere down the line," Gerrard said.
"I'm well aware how this club works and how it runs and we are a club where, if the right numbers land for our players, we do have to recycle. But nothing's been said to me since the game in terms of being in a rush or a hurry to do that and nothing's changed."
There has been constant speculation this summer linking Colombia striker Alfredo Morelos with Porto, but Gerrard says Rangers have not had a realistic bid for any of his players.
The Ibrox side entertain Dunfermline Athletic in the last 16 of the League Cup on Friday - three days after a bruising 2-1 home defeat by a Malmo side reduced to 10 men.
Rangers will be strong favourites to defeat second-tier visitors who themselves lost 3-0 at home to promoted Partick Thistle on Saturday despite having promotion aspirations.
However, the former England and Liverpool captain said he understood the challenge he faces after three defeats in a row.
"The players, coaches and supporters all don't like this feeling and it is about unity and sticking together," Gerrard said.
"It is my job to lead in these situations and flip the mood as quick as we can. You have to use this feeling to react and put in a performance."
Rangers failed to lift either domestic cup trophy last season despite being runaway Scottish Premiership champions and
"You will see in my squad selection how serious we are taking the competition," manager Gerrard said.
"We made it abundantly clear to the squad this season that the domestic cups are important and we want to go all the way in both. We will be going full throttle."
Gerrard defended the club's summer recruitment and expressed himself happy with his squad.
"For different reasons during pre-season people have been missing, but the squad is now starting to look healthy," he added.
"We have shown that we are a last-16 team in the Europa League in the last few seasons. We are disappointed with this week, but we move on to our next challenge and it is about trying to get back in a good place as quick as you can."