Europe will suit us, says Tavernier
AHEAD of schedule. But nonetheless ready. If Rangers can secure a place in the Europa League qualifiers through lifting the Scottish Cup, James Tavernier is adamant they would meet the challenge.
The Ibrox full-back has experience of continental competition from his time as a fringe player with Newcastle United, racking up appearances against Bordeaux, Club Brugge and Greek outfit Atromitos in 2012.
Four years on, he will be back in that arena if Rangers can overcome Hibernian at Hampden on Saturday. And he firmly believes the style Mark Warburton has imposed on the squad would see them hold their own.
‘Could we cope in Europe? One hundred percent,’ he insisted. ‘We play good football, we like to pass the ball around and when you get to the European stage there are a lot of sides like that.
‘The team we have would be able to cope with Europe. We have good intensity in the side.
‘It’s a different experience playing in the Europa League. There are foreign referees, different players, and new stadiums. Football is football but every country is a little different. It would be a great experience to get there.’
To do so, Rangers will have to record their first victory since that dramatic penalty shoot-out success over Celtic in the semi-final.
In their four subsequent Championship matches, with the title already secured, Warburton’s side managed just two points.
Tavernier is convinced, however, that they will be able to spark again at the national stadium. Last week’s 4-3 win over a Tottenham select in a closed-doors friendly helped break up a 20-day period without competitive action.
‘I wouldn’t say there has been much down time,’ said Tavernier. ‘There have not been any games but the friendly with Spurs was a great test for us. It got the intensity back up and was really good for the boys.
‘We’ve not really had intensity like that apart from in the Celtic game. To have that before the Final was fantastic.
‘They had a youthful side out with some top players. It was really useful for us.
‘It’s always hard when the season is almost over. You see it down south as well. There are sides maybe not performing that well and perhaps once you’ve won the league the form does drop a little.
‘We can switch it back on easily enough. You don’t need any motivation for a Scottish Cup Final. The prize is massive. The boys will be raring to go.
‘At the beginning of the season, the objective was to win the league. We didn’t expect to get Celtic this year. We thought that would be next year.
‘But our objective is to beat Celtic every time we play them. We have done really well, winning the Petrofac Training Cup on top of promotion, and it would be fantastic to top it off with the Scottish Cup.
‘We all know if we don’t get the result at Hampden, then we will be sitting on our holidays feeling regret. You want to finish the season on a high with a trophy.’
Tavernier will return to pre-season to find a squad augmented with new additions.
Highly rated Liverpool youngster Jordan Rossiter last week joined Accrington Stanley duo Matt Crooks and Josh Windass in committing to the Ibrox club. Joey Barton could soon follow.
‘Everyone is looking to strengthen and, obviously, you lose players as well,’ added Tavernier.
‘I’ve not played against Rossiter or the Accrington boys, but once you come here you become fixated with the football we play. It will be interesting.
‘The manager has a great record. He’s brought in very good players and the loan boys have done well also. He has trusted in the transfer market throughout the country as it was the same with him at his previous job.
‘We all trust him here to bring in the right players.’
THE deadline for Rangers season ticket holders to renew their seat for 2016/17 is Friday, June 3, 2016. See www.rangers.co.uk/renew, email ticketcentre@rangers.co.uk or call 0871 702 1972.