James Tavernier feels Rangers have stepped up since his ‘disgraceful’ comment
James Tavernier feels Rangers have “stepped up” since he described the performance in boss Danny Rohl’s first game as “disgraceful”.
The 34-year-old captain, who joined the Light Blues from Wigan in 2015, was raging after the humiliating 3-0 defeat by Brann in Bergen on October 23 sent Gers bottom of the 36-team Europa League table with zero points from nine, with the German coach afterwards apologising to the travelling fans.
While European results have barely improved – one point from 18 – Russell Martin’s successor has rejuvenated the Light Blues in the William Hill Premiership with eight wins, two draws and one defeat and they sit three points behind Celtic ahead of Saturday’s Old Firm game at Parkhead, with leaders Hearts a further three points ahead.
“It was down to us as players, the way we applied ourselves as a team and as individuals,” said Tavernier, who revealed there has been talks about a new contract with his current deal expiring in the summer, “but they will stay private”.
“That’s what I was most angry about.
“But that’s definitely changed since then, the boys have really stepped up.
“It was still early days back then but the boys have really taken what the manager wants on board.
“We’re getting better. The majority of the signings are better and I’m much more happy than I was previously this season.”
Despite an upturn in league form, Rangers lost in extra time to Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden Park in November and Tavernier is hoping the tables are turned at Parkhead.
He said: “We’ve had a lot of time on the training pitch with the manager and we’ve adapted to different styles of how we want to play.
“I feel like we’re getting better as a team and learning more from what we’ve done in the past.
“The lads are really taking in what he wants and I do think we’re getting better.
“We always want to be in that shout (for the title race). Consistency is always the key in any season.
“You have to put in performances, put results together to put yourself in with a shout.
“We’ve had setbacks but overall we’ve worked really hard to try and put ourselves in it.
“Saturday is another game we want to get three points from.
“It’ll be a step closer to the end of the season and we’ll fight all the way to the end.
“Like in the semi-final, you have to be clinical in the big moments in these games.”