HUMILITY and respect. They are the words that Steven Gerrard emphasises, the values that he lives and manages by.

And they are the traits that he expects to see from his players in the coming days, weeks and months as the campaign unfolds and Rangers target historic successes.

Gerrard could scarcely have asked for much more from the campaign thus far as Rangers have moved to the brink of Europa League qualification and opened an 11-point lead in the Premiership title race.

But the Ibrox boss certainly won’t get ahead of himself, and nor will he allow his players to think that the hard work is done when the job is far from completed this term.

Gerrard has spoken previously about the character of his players being as important as their quality and the mentality of the Gers squad will be tested like never before as they seek to deliver silverware that is so sought-after. That is where those two values will come to the fore once again.

“Not at great length or in great detail,” Gerrard said when asked if he had feel the need to reinforce the message of remaining humble to his players.

“But it is a value that I have always tried to come close to because it is an emotional game and can get the better of you, whether you’re a player celebrating or on the back of a setback. Certainly, that’s been the case in my first few years in management.

“You live and learn and at times we’ve got it wrong, but we make no apologies for getting over-excited at times.

“This is a pressure environment with big responsibility and sometimes you have to lose yourself in that but, in terms of being humble and respectful, it’s something I’ve tried to pride my career on in the main. I’ll try and do that as a manager and I expect everyone else to try and do the same.

“Players are human beings and it’s an emotional game. And we’re a team and we’re individuals and there are times we want the players to celebrate and enjoy themselves when they’re on the back of a big result or they get over a big hurdle.

“We’re humans on a big journey and we’ve got to enjoy the ride as well. I think it’s quite cheap for certain individuals to say that at times we get too excited.

“They have to remember that they have as well. They’ve done similar things to what we’ve done.

“Not only do we continue to go on, but the words ‘humble’ and ‘respect’ need to remain at this club forever, not just now and in the short term. They’re words which have been used at this football club well before we turned up and will be used well after we’re gone.”

If Rangers are to achieve what they have worked towards since the day that Gerrard arrived at Ibrox, it will be very much a team effort this term.

The squad that has been assembled is the strongest that Rangers have had since winning their last league flag a decade ago.

There are those that Gerrard will rely on slightly more, but every individual has a part to play in a collective effort to improve at home and abroad.

“We don’t really see it as a core group within the group,” he said. “We just focus on the whole group.

“Of course, we have a nice blend of experienced players who have been around the block. We have a nice blend of middle-aged players who are in their peak years, if you like.

“We have a really exciting crop of players we are trying to shape and develop. We are happy with the group at the moment.

“That doesn’t mean we are not going to keep trying to tweak and improve it. I don’t think you can ever stand still as a group when you are representing Rangers.

“So the important thing and the big challenge for us is how we maintain and prove we can be consistent over the course of a full season.

“We have shown before that we can go on consistent bursts, that we can compete. But we need to do that from start to finish. That’s the big challenge for all of us.

“But the focus is as a group, we are all one here. There is not a core within the group.”

One of the few disappointments that Rangers have had this term came in their last Europa League outing as a two-goal lead and two points were squandered in Lisbon.

Benfica midfielder Pizzi has claimed that the Portuguese giants are amongst the favourites to go on and win the competition this term.

That isn’t the aim for Rangers, but Gerrard knows how significant a victory at Ibrox would be on a night where qualification for the knockout rounds can be confirmed.

“It’s two different situations,” Gerrard said. “Benfica are probably set as a squad, in terms of being littered with international footballers with big experience.

“They went into the transfer market heavily in the summer. They have players who are probably going to go again for £60 million plus.

“So I don’t think it’s fair to compare them with us who are on a two-year journey, still trying to evolve and aspire to be at Benfica’s level.

“Can we compete with Benfica in a one-off game? Of course we can, we have already proved that. We will try and prove it again on Thursday night.

“But I totally agree with Pizzi, because before a ball was kicked in this competition, without a doubt Benfica would be amongst the favourites. They have top class individual players, so why wouldn’t they be?”