WE’LLGOTOE TO TOE WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD
Tavernier says reinvigorated Rangers fear no foe as he eyes shot at glory in Champions League
JAMES TAVERNIER’S side blazed a trail across Europe last season but he reckons the new-look Rangers are ready to take on the world.
The Light Blues might have gone down to Spurs on Saturday but confidence is flowing around Ibrox right now.
Tavernier believes they are not just prepared for the Premiership battle as the big kick-off approaches next weekend – the captain also has faith Gers are gearing up for a proper crack at the Champions League.
And why not? Rangers are in a good place right now. The departures of Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo could have dented the club’s revival in recent years but instead it looks to have fuelled the push to the next level.
This Gers squad needed an injection of fresh blood. Not that the last group didn’t do the business. Winning the title in the season before last and going all the way to the Europa League Final was stunning success given the torturous journey back from the depths of despair.
But there were signs last term things had gone a tad stale on the home front. No longer. There is a freshness about this Rangers group and the six – soon to be seven signings – look to have re-energised the place.
All of the new arrivals could conceivably be first-team starters each week.
Tom Lawrence looks a player. Rabbi Matondo should get bahookies off seats, Antonio Colak – who got off the mark against Spurs – seems to know where the goal is and John Souttar is solid.
There’s more to come with
Ben Davies, a proven performer down south, yet to appear, Malik Tillman with a huge reputation from Bayern Munich and soon Ridvan Yilmaz, a title winner at Besiktas, could sort out the leftback role whether Borna Barisic sticks around or is shuffled onto the bench. Alfredo Morelos is also still to return.
On paper, everything looks tickety-boo and Rangers will surely be more than capable of winning most weeks on the home front and squaring up with Celtic for the title.
But Tavernier’s eyes are on the bigger prizes too. He looks around the new group and reckons this bunch have the chops to make more waves in Europe.
A Champions League qualifier against Union Saint-Gilloise in a few weeks could be followed by an encounter against PSV Eindhoven or Dynamo Kyiv.
The man wearing the armband – who is expected to sign a contract extension – is ready to take on allcomers after getting a taste of the big time against Spurs.
Tavernier said: “We want to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the world. We’ll never back off, home or away. We always try to win, especially at home. I’m happy. We’ve got a full week to
prepare now and we’ll go into the season feeling strong.
“This is what we want to do, especially with the Champions League qualifiers. We want to play against the top teams and there are not many teams out there with that calibre of counterattacking football.”
Colak nabbed an opener against Tottenham but the EPL big guns flexed their muscles with Harry Kane stealing the show.
Antonio Conte’s men are Champions League class but it was the perfect warm-up ahead of the campaign and a huge teaser of what could be to come.
Tavernier said: “It was a good test as Tottenham are a top side. You see the investment they have
made in the transfer windows and the quality players they have.
“We were disappointed with the way we lost the game and with the goals we conceded but we can be really happy with the progress we’ve made this pre-season.
“The boys are ready. The boss put everything in place to make sure everyone is ready, no matter who is in the side for the game against Livingston. We’re raring to go and want to start with a win.”
There were impressive periods against Spurs but there’s an inevitability of an outcome when the opposition chucks on £50million subs in the second half. It should’ve been no contest but Rangers don’t tend to pay much attention to the maths. The opener was perhaps a sign of what’s to come.
Matondo hit Mach 2 to beat his man and his low cross was nudged on by Tavernier – in the opposition box as per – and Colak pounced.
Spurs seemed rattled but it didn’t last with Kane and Son around. In the second half, Kane did his partypiece, holding the ball up, shuffling it out of his feet and whipping into the top corner. The front two linked up again to turn it around. But Tavernier impressed in a slightly different role, almost as an inverted full-back, John Lundstrum’s disciplined man marking looked made for Europe and Lawrence might be the signing who makes the biggest impression with his movement from deep and ability to break into the box. Gio van Bronckhorst will be content the hard work is done. His squad has been assembled, now it’s time to let them fly.