Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CAN WE PLAY YOU EVERY WEEK?
Gers defender Tavernier just loves ‘Tic ties
JAMES TAVERNIER has suffered a miserable nine-game winless Old Firm run since a penalty shootout victory on his derby debut two years ago.
But despite the drought since that dramatic 2016 Scottish Cup semi-final win, the Rangers stand-in skipper insists he would still love to play Celtic EVERY week.
And the Englishman says a repeat victory at the same stage of the competition would top the shootout triumph.
Tavernier is one of only five survivors from the Mark Warburton side from two years ago but reckons the arrival of Brendan Rodgers at Celtic has raised the bar.
And that is why the 26-year-old believes a win at Hampden today would be a bigger achievement as Graeme Murty’s Gers look to book a place in next month’s final.
The full-back said: “If I could, I’d play an Old Firm game every week. There’s obviously a little bit of nerves, maybe the night before but nothing massive, nothing that keeps me up. It’s just excitement to get on that pitch.
“There’s maybe only a handful of players from the last victory who are still here.
“Obviously Brendan Rodgers has come in and he’s had some time to improve their team while we have gone through different managers.
“But Graeme Murty came in and he’s laid a good foundation for us to play.
He’s brought in great additions to the squad and we’ve got stronger.
“We can take positives and negatives from the
Ibrox game last month but we are on the right path.
That gap has got very, very close now.”
Scott Brown has suggested the manner in which 10-man Celtic sunk Gers’ title hopes with a 3-2 victory at Ibrox will have left the Light Blues fearing for today’s clash.
But Tavernier said: “We feel mentally tough. We know we have a great group of lads who can bounce back. I know all the boys are raring to go for this game.
“It’s a semi-final and we want to win. We want to win every Old Firm game and nothing will change.
“In Scotland, you play the same teams quite a lot but probably not to this length where we’ve not won a game. Recently it’s been better because of the way we’ve played and we’ve shown what we can do.
“I’ve never gone into a game thinking we’re going to lose. That’s not the mentality I’ve got and I don’t believe it’s the mentality of any of the other boys, otherwise they wouldn’t be at Rangers.
“We need to have that winning mentality and go into the game believing we’re going to win.
“This is my 11th Old Firm game and it’s always massive. I always look forward to them and it’s one of the reasons I came here.
“You always prepare to do your best against them and try to win. It comes down to small details on the day, to avoiding mistakes, being right at it and being focused.”
Tavernier has been filling in as captain in the absence of the crocked Lee Wallace.
And he admits he will be proud to lead the Light Blues out at Hampden.
Tavernier said: “I’m honoured to have been made captain. If I get the captaincy this weekend it’s another huge honour.”