Rangers will need James Tavernier to be at his very best against Celtic if Scottish Cup success is to be secured.
The Gers skipper lifted one of football’s oldest trophies only a couple of years ago but the circumstances couldn’t be more different.
It’s not the first time in his Rangers career that James Tavernier has been under pressure and it is a question that has irked Philippe Clement’s main man.
Rangers attitude question put to bed by James Tavernier
The mentality of the squad has been questioned, as has the ability of some of the players who have been at the club a while to shake off the tag of being second fiddle to Celtic.
There are rumours of interest from Saudi Arabia that Tavernier has addressed already, but he showed a different side of himself when asked if there were players in the squad who were distracted by uncertain futures:
“Everyone in that changing room tries to give their maximum for the team and the club.
“I have never seen anyone fall short of that. We work extremely hard behind the scenes at the training ground and we will try to put that into the match.
“Like I said, I have got two years left and I am fully focused on the job in hand. I am always fully committed, I give my all every single day and that is what I will continue to do.”
Cup final gives Tavernier chance to silence serial loser criticism
Scottish Cup finals are always huge games, however, Old Firm finals are even bigger – just ask Peter Lovenkrands.
What makes this one different is that Celtic are big favourites for a variety of reasons.
Yes, form normally goes out the window on this sort of occasion, but Rangers haven’t won a meaningful derby since the last time these two sides met at Hampden.
Then there is their respective form.
Rangers are conceding too many goals and too many of their own making.
Add this the the lengthy injury list and it’s little wonder Rangers fans are far from putting their mortgages on their team to emerge victorious.
Tavernier seemed more deliberate in why he was saying.
He was hyper aware that he seemed to be repeating himself.
Then he emphasised, on more than occasion, that the time for talking is over.
If James Tavernier is sick of saying the same thing over, and over again, Rangers fans are equally as sick of hearing it.
There is only one way to change this – win.
