IT'S been a bit of a rollercoaster for Steven Gerrard and the club since the season started. First, the upheaval of the Euro’s caused and then the ripple effect that had on the squad. There has been injuries and suspensions which undoubtedly caused huge issues in Europe especially. Then to top it all off, an outbreak of Covid had set us up with a huge task ahead of the final games before the international break.

They say you learn so much in times of adversity but I think this would only have reconfirmed the gaffer's thoughts as part one of the fixtures finished last Sunday. This team and squad are resilient, they absolutely DO get the requirements of playing for this club, they DO have the desire and most certainly they have the heart.

The Champions League exit was a huge blow, in fact, it’s probably the biggest blow we could have had. There is no doubting the knock-on effect it has had in the transfer market and the fact we haven’t paid anything for a player shows that for me. But we have managed to strengthen the squad and whilst it might not seem like it now, all four players do have the capability to enhance the first team - they simply need time.

That exit from the Champions League and a defeat to Dundee Utd left us with the nightmare week but Rangers have bounced back well and although it’s been patchy there is just cause to draw a line under it all and look forward to ‘things’ going up from here.

By ‘things’ I mean quality of performance, quality of play and individual performance because we haven’t even begun to get near the levels we can achieve.

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Even though that hasn’t happened, just yet, Rangers have progressed in the League Cup, we have qualified for the Europa League group stages and we have managed three wins from four in the league which includes the first Old Firm of the season. Given the challenges, listed above, that’s not a bad return and yes the Champions League exit hurts but it is gone and there is nothing we can do.

Rangers have to concentrate on regrouping the squad. Getting the players back to fitness as a group, working on the training pitch as much as possible to help rediscover form and try to consistently hit the heights we know they can.

Off the pitch, we have to try to secure the contracts of Connor Goldson and Glen Kamara immediately. Both have offers on the table for a long time which have yet to be signed. Then there are others like Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Borna Barisic who are going into the final years of their deals. So we have to constantly try to extend and improve these deals to ensure we aren’t left with a situation where we are losing players for a fraction of their true worth.

The big sales haven’t come. Time will tell whether that’s from bad luck or design, where the board have backed a league win bringing CL qualification and they simply didn’t try to sell players. Next summer may prove to be huge for the club with renewals, sales, signings and possibly even management changes but there is a lot of ifs and buts before we can even realistically contemplate that.

For now, Rangers have an international break to regroup and ensure this club gets back to its best both individually and collectively, that has to be the immediate aim.

Glen Kamara and Kemar Roofe are now suspension free. The Covid hit players will return from isolation over the next few weeks and the new players will begin to settle into the squad. I would be hopeful things can settle down in terms of who is available for the next few weeks and we can start to see our best form.

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What the start to the season has confirmed to me is that this team still has the resilience and still has the heart to kick on once more. We were up against it massively in Armenia. No manager, no captain, no first-choice goalkeepers and lots missing but still, we came through even if it was anything but vintage.

Then after that gruelling trip, we had more setbacks ahead of the first Old Firm and still managed to produce a victory. A victory that showed huge levels of grit and determination both individually and as a team. Players like Borna Barisic and Filip Helander found their old levels, both combining for the winning goal also. Then the grit and amazing energy levels of Glen Kamara and Steven Davis shown throughout. Not to mention the desire and heart of Kent and Roofe who played through fitness and injury issues to help bring the three points home.

That’s the standard we require, the heart, the desire and the passion. The performance will come, and to repeat myself, both individually and as a team.

For now, in that adversity we have faced we can be sure of one thing and that is that this team isn’t going to roll over easily. We have passion, determination, grit and we won’t just give up what we have achieved. If you want to take our title then it won’t be done easily.

The Celtic win showed that even with so much against us we are Champions for a reason. Let others bring the noise, the supposed free-flowing attacking styles that we won’t cope with, let them bring the criticism because this is Rangers and we are never more dangerous than when we are pushed into a corner.

So come after us because we welcome it, it’s healthy for us and as we have proved even in such adversity so far this season, we are not going to give that up easily.

As Old Firm hero and man of the match Leon Balogun said, this is a family and if you come after us then we will come after you.

Well, we are coming. We are coming to retain this title and prove just who we are - the champions for a reason.