Rangers FC signed Filip Helander from Bologna earlier this month and the defender is expected to be a constant starter for the Gers next season.
After signing for the Premiership outfit, Filip Helander said: “I am delighted to be joining Rangers, it’s a special club with tremendous fans and a unique history.
“The opportunity to work with a manager like Steven Gerrard was an easy decision to make.
“I’ve come here to battle for every point and to win trophies and I’m looking forward to meeting my teammates and getting started.”
Earlier this week, the centre-back made his debut for the club as he got to play in the second half during Rangers’ friendly vs Blackburn Rovers.
And speaking after the match, Steven Gerrard made it clear that the fans should not expect Filip Helander to be thrown into the action anytime soon.
Gerrard explained: “Well he’s[Filip Helander] a week, maybe eight or nine days at the most in [to pre-season] so he’s still got two or three weeks to go until he’s fully conditioned, but I think he was fine out there.
“Unfortunately the players around him didn’t help him today and when he came on the pitch we conceded a goal, but it was nothing to do with Filip and I thought he handled his debut pretty well.
“He’s still three weeks behind the boys so we’ll keep pushing him, get him conditioned, get him fit and get him ready.
“By the time he’s fit and ready, he’ll know the philosophy more and know how we want to play.”
The Gers have given a four-year contract to Filip Helander and have reportedly paid around £3.5 million for the Swedish defender which means Gerrard certainly has high hopes from the defender.
But it’s pretty clear from the manager’s statement that Filip will only get to start once he proves his match fitness to Steven Gerrard.
