BEVERLY HILLS, May 13, (THEWILL) – Steven Gerrard, the title-winning manager of Scottish Premiership side Rangers, had nothing but adulations for his Super Eagles player, Joe Aribo, after the midfielder’s sterling performances in an out-of-position display in Rangers’ 3-0 victory over Livingston on Wednesday.
The injury to regular left-back Borna Barisic and the suspension to Calvin Bassey forced Gerrard to play Aribo at that position, a switch from the player’s traditional place in the middle of the park only for Aribo to give his manager a display that was better than anything he had seen in the three years of his senior managerial career in Glasgow.
Delighted at Aribo for his proper handling of the switch, Gerrard told the club’s TV in post-match remarks: “What can I say about Joe Aribo? I’ll tell you what I’ll say about him. Good players can play football, top players can play anywhere on the football pitch.
“A manager can ask a player to play a role and good players can do some and can’t do some, but Joe Aribo is a top player so whatever I ask him to do he goes and gives it his best shot.
“He’s my man of the match tonight, just because if you think about it, he’s a No. 10 and he’s just been so comfortable at left back and cruised it and breezed it.”
In a moment of truth, Gerrard admitted: “That left back performance is as good as I’ve seen in the three years I’ve been here. Well done to him for parking his ego and doing a fantastic job for his team-mates.”
The 24-year-old Nigerian made 41 appearances for the trophy-winning side this season. From his midfield position, he managed eight goals and an equal number of assists to help the club stop Celtic from clinching a 10th consecutive Scottish domestic league title while securing a 55th trophy for themselves instead to set a domestic league world record.
But, Aribo’s versatility, which has been an advantage in his arsenal has seen him being deployed in a number of rules for the Light Blues, including right wing and central midfield, all of which he has handled with dispatch, as his manager admiringly confessed.
He is likely to reprise his role in the same position at the weekend’s fixture when fourth-placed Aberdeen is due to visit the Ibrox Stadium on Saturday. This time around, it will be a confident Gerrard that will proudly see Aribo shine all over again as a temporal left-back.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
