Leon Balogun in Rangers 'building' assurance as defender opens up on shock Steven Gerrard exit

Rangers star Leon Balogun has opened up on the departure of Steven Gerrard, but is confident the shock move won't derail an "outstanding job".

The Liverpool legend led the Ibrox club to the Premiership title last season but jumped ship for Aston Villa late last year.

Gio van Bronckhorst stepped into the breach and, despite a galling defeat to Celtic, has his side very much in contention for a second successive league win.

And, in an interview in Germany, Balogun insists he is confident Rangers are heading in the right direction under the Dutchman after predicting where Gerrard will go next.

He said: "It's now clear to many that at some point Steven Gerrard will go 'home' and become a Liverpool manager.

"There had to be a stopover and Aston Villa was a very good possibility.

"It was a shame he left because Steven Gerrard has had a mission here in Glasgow for three years, built something and had done an outstanding job.

"I came here in 2020 after a rather difficult period in my career and Gerrard and his team handed me incredible confidence in myself.

"But Giovanni van Bronckhorst is not so bad as a successor either.

"You realise how important it is for him to convey his idea to the players, which mainly includes possession of the ball.

"He played for the club himself and understands one hundred per cent what is required. And he demands the same from us. Something is slowly developing here, but it takes time."

And Balogun was delighted at the way Rangers bounced back from their Old Firm humbling against Celtic at Parkhead.

He admitted: "It hurt.

"But you couldn't have got a better reaction than the game against Hearts. That gives us impetus."