We are always hungry, insists captain Tavernier
JAMES TAVERNIER insists Rangers are ‘always hungry’ for silverware success after earning new boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst a debut win at Ibrox.
The champions got the
Van Bronckhorst era off and running on Thursday night as a 2-0 victory over Sparta Prague clinched a Europa League knockout berth for the third successive season.
Van Bronckhorst had seen his side crash out of the Premier Sports Cup just days after agreeing to succeed Steven Gerrard in the dugout as Hibernian inflicted a shock Hampden defeat last weekend.
Defender Connor Goldson came in for criticism for admitting that Rangers had ‘lost a bit of hunger’ and needed a ‘spark’ under their incoming boss this term.
But Tavernier is confident the mentality of the Govan squad will see them strive for more trophies as he looks to guide his side to a second consecutive Premiership title.
Tavernier said: “The boys are always hungry. They are at Rangers for a reason.
“They are at Rangers to be winning trophies and to winning games every single week.
“When the boss came at the start of the week I knew all the boys were really looking forward to working with him.
“You’ve seen how much of that came out in the game on Thursday night.
“There was a real focus on the gameplan and what the boss wanted us to do.
“We carried it out the best we could in the short amount of time that we had, but I think it’s only going to get better the more we work together.
“The hunger? You know it’s one of those where the weekend frustrations can kick in, you know it’s still very raw after a game.
“The hunger is always there for the boys, we are at this club for a reason and that should never be in doubt.”
The defeat to Hibernian last weekend could have derailed Rangers as they came to terms with the departure of Gerrard to Aston Villa.
But Van Bronckhorst ensured there was an immediate reaction at Ibrox as Alfredo Morelos netted a brace to clinch second spot in Group A this term.
Rangers spurned a series of chances and were thankful for the incredible efforts of Allan McGregor as he made a terrific double stop late on.
But Tavernier reckons there were plenty of reasons to be positive as a shut-out earned the champions the two-goal victory they needed to progress.
Tavernier said: “It was really good to get the clean sheet and get through. It was important that we bounced back in the right manner after the disappointing weekend.
“I felt the boys put in a really good shift having a brief few days with the boss working tactically and on what he wanted.
“I thought we implemented it in the game and we were delighted to get that clean sheet. We can build on this now.”