Frank Lampard says ‘hard lad’ Steven Gerrard can cope with Rangers struggles

Frank Lampard insists Steven Gerrard is ‘tough and hard’ enough to deal with the pressures of the Rangers job – without any words of support from himself.

Gerrard is feeling the heat at Ibrox for the first time in two seasons with Rangers’ hopes of stopping bitter rivals Celtic romping to a ninth straight title all but dead.

Yet Chelsea boss Lampard hates getting sympathy from fellow managers – and is not about to offer any to his pal north of the border.

Lamps, who started in management at the same time as Gerrard, said: “We all have the same pressures, at different levels – however they make look from the outside.

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“So, I’m certainly not talking about sympathy because we’re both quite tough. I know Steven well and he’s a hard lad. I mean that in a good way.

“I don’t want any sympathy from anyone. I actually don't like the sympathy, because I’m working just to get better.

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“And I’m not going to hand that sympathy or lessons or talks to any other manager – not just Steven.”

Lampard insists the criticism of Gerrard is proof that those who claim they both get favourable treatment as managers, thanks to their glittering playing careers, are talking rubbish.

The ex-Derby boss, 41, went on: “Sometimes people say that he and myself get an easy ride because we are ex-players, who were spoken about a lot, and English. I don’t agree.

“It’s probably the other way round at times. People want to point these things all out.”

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