Steven Gerrard stresses player welfare during coronavirus statement | OneFootball

Steven Gerrard has made it clear that he wants to protect the players from burning out no matter what the appropriate solution is for the rest of the Premiership campaign.

Football in all of Scotland, much like the rest of the world, has been postponed indefinitely until further notice.

There’s a possibility that football gets played through the summer into next season, effectively merging two campaigns – something which Gerrard is strongly against.

“Players’ welfare is paramount right now. We are doing everything we can from a medical point of view, putting all the right precautions in place,” he told Rangers’ official website.

“I am in regular contact with the board and the club on a daily basis to see what happens.

“But I think we have to trust the authorities to try and find the right solutions.

“I’m not one who thinks we should be merging seasons and this type of stuff because that has different types of problems for the players, playing too much football in a short space of time.”

Though Gerrard is all about being as safe as possible during this strange and difficult time, the former Liverpool midfielder is not thrilled about the idea of playing matches behind closed doors.

“Football is about supporters,” he added. “The reason I joined Rangers was to coach in front of the wonderful support we have got.

“I know all the players feel the same way. I don’t think the right thing to do is all of a sudden play all the games behind closed doors.

“I don’t think that’s fair at all. It’s very much a time where football has to become secondary.

“People’s lives are at risk, people’s businesses are at risk.

“We have to be patient. This is a virus that is spreading very, very quickly around the world.

“I think we have a duty of care first and foremost for our own families and then our own people at Rangers and our supporters, and obviously wider society as well.”