Steven Gerrard wants to mirror Glasgow Rangers success at Aston Villa but makes 'obvious gap' point

Steven Gerrard waxed lyrical about former side Rangers' exploits in Dortmund this week and outlined how he wants to take Aston Villa back into Europe.

The 41-year-old watched from home as Rangers destroyed the German giants 4-2 in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie at the Westfalenstadion.

"I paid my respects to a real, high-end and top performance," Gerrard said, with the Villa chief posting his admiration on Instagram of Rangers' achievements.

"They were fantastic and it was a special night."

Asked if he can replicate Rangers' exploits by taking Villa back into Europe in the not too distant future, Gerrard said: "Look, I think it's obvious there is a gap. You know that, I know that, the owners know that.

"Everyone looking at Villa from the inside and the outside knows there's a gap.

"(European football) is the long-term ambition and the long-term goal.

"How quickly we can close that gap, how quickly we can achieve that ambition, time will tell.

"But we have to focus on the now and the reality and the reality is we are 12th in the Premier League and, to finish in the European places, there is a gap.

"So, we have to do everything we can in the short term - and focus on the short term to improve the group.

"We've got to keep building the group and, at every opportunity we can, get stronger and, if everyone shares the ambition of the owners, I can't see why we can't achieve it.

"It would be naive of me to put a time frame on that.

"I would love it to happen this season. I would love it to happen next season.

"But there's a process and we have to worry about the now and focus on the challenges which are right in front of us because it's too soon, right now, to be focusing on Europe."

Ahead of Watford later,