Gerrard: In Confident Mood

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RANGERS touched down in Lisbon this afternoon in ‘confident mood’ ahead of their massively exciting UEFA Europa League clash with Benfica tomorrow night.

The Light Blues have a superb six points from their opening two matches so far this season in the competition with a glamour clash against one of Europe’s biggest names in the fabulous Estadio da Luz to come tomorrow night.

After inspecting their surroundings, boss Steven Gerrard addressed the media and said: "We come into it in confident mood.

"We started the season ever-so well and we have got the majority of the squad available, fit and well and ready to go, so we come in a good place.

"I am sure they will want to react from that and go all the way in this competition. You can see why they are certainly one of the favourites.

"They have also got a manager who has got big experience - he is a successful manager as well, it's a tall order, a big ask but it is one we want to give our best shot in.

"We are fully-fit in-terms of health - we have had no injuries and nobody is missing from the weekend, so that is good news.

"In-terms of our experience here in Portugal, we can certainly tap-in to that experience and try to use that to take confidence from and use it as a belief going into tomorrow's game.

"But it is a different challenge, a different team - Benfica have started the strongest in-terms of the Portuguese teams this season, so it is a huge challenge, a big challenge, but for sure, we are going to have to try to find a performance that was of the level of Porto or Braga if we are to have any chance."

The stadium played host to this season’s Champions League final as well as the 2014 final and also the Euro 2004 final.

It’s a fantastic place for a game of football and Gerrard continued: "You have got to use that as motivation - it's a world-class stadium, a fantastic place to play and the pitch is in great shape.

"These are the places where you want to come and play. I think it is a big shame and I think the players and myself are quite gutted it's not going to be a full house because it is a wonderful place to come and play football.

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"But, it is what it is - we are used to playing behind closed-doors now and I don't think it is going to change any time soon, certainly in the near future, so we just have to get on with it and give it our best shot.

"We have just walked round the place now and it is a fabulous place to come and test ourselves."

Benfica are yet to lose a home Europa League fixture, and Gerrard added: "Records are there to be broken, and I think that goes to show the size of the task tomorrow.

"Benfica are littered with fantastic players - international players, Brazilians, Germans,

"The players are looking forward to this game - we have started the group stage very well and we want to try and build on that with a positive result tomorrow."