Gerrard won’t be a barrier to early Ibrox exit for Ejaria
STEVEN GERRARD insists he will not stand in the way of Ovie Ejaria returning to Liverpool. The 21-year-old looks increasingly likely to have played his last game for Rangers after becoming unsettled in Glasgow. Ejaria didn’t travel to Austria for Thursday night’s Europa League defeat to Rapid Vienna, with talks involving the midfielder, Gerrard and Liverpool now set to finalise his future. A return to Anfield would make him the second loanee to leave Ibrox early after striker Umar Sadiq was sent back to Roma having failed to make a positive impression in Govan. Ejaria has been a far more prominent figure, making 28 appearances, but Gerrard will respect the wishes of the player and his parent club. Asked what was behind the issue, Gerrard said: ‘That’s what I’m
WITH all of Rangers’ energies now focused on the domestic front, James Tavernier has urged one final push to end a tumultuous year in rousing style.
The Ibrox captain knows any disappointment felt at exiting the Europa League cannot be allowed to linger. Not when Steven Gerrard’s men face a five-game period that will decide whether they can truly enjoy the relaxation of the winter break.
It is time, Tavernier believes, to take the fuel gauge into the red zone. To drain bodies and mind of every last reserve in pursuit of positive Premiership results.
Playing host to Hamilton tomorrow is followed by trips to meet Hibernian and St Johnstone. Then comes an Ibrox rematch with Neil Lennon’s side on Boxing Day before a potentially pivotal derby with Celtic on December 29. The narrative of Gerrard’s debut season has rarely been anything other than compelling. Yet this next fortnight promises to be a particularly absorbing chapter.
Tavernier accepts a response is needed to recent setbacks. Dropping five points against Aberdeen and Dundee — despite having an extra man for a combined total of 100 minutes — swiftly deflated the high of topping the league.
The damage has not been grievous. Rangers remain only two points behind Celtic, albeit having played one game more. But with a record of just four wins in their last 12 games across all competitions, the margin for error has been depleted.
‘We just have to give everything now until the last game against Celtic before the winter break,’ admitted Tavernier. ‘We have to empty the tank in every single game and then we’ll get a little break.
‘If we do empty the tank in those matches then hopefully we will get the rewards. We need to definitely improve our league performances. We have dropped too many points already due to bad performances from ourselves.
‘That has to change. And for this weekend.’
Europe gave the season an early stamp of success. Coming through four qualifying rounds to reach the Europa League group phase was a highly creditable feat.
For the fourth seeds to then finish third in the section — taking their fight for a last-32 place to the final six minutes of Thursday night’s loss to Rapid Vienna — proved they were not out of place among that company.
Tavernier reflects with pride on that 14-game journey. But he also recognises that judgments will now be made on how they perform in Scotland.
‘There is another cup to come this season and we have the league,’ he added. ‘We’re nearly at the halfway point there.
‘We have to show a level of consistency. If we take the European performances into the league then we have a fighting chance. It is still close in the league at the minute and the gaffer will probably bring in some new faces in January that could make us even stronger. Hopefully, injured players will come back into the team, too.
‘We just have to see off these next five games and try to take as many points as we can.
‘I just want us to take the levels we have shown in Europe into our league football. We need to show that level of desire, energy, hungriness and concentration in every single game.
‘If we did, we would have beaten Aberdeen and Dundee.
‘It’s always different playing against teams who are open in Europe compared to “low block” teams. But I believe we have a chance of getting a lot of points if we take those aspects into the games.’
While the Rapid defeat was a frustrating conclusion to continental involvement, it would be wrong to view it in isolation. Perspective is provided by the contrast with last season.
Tavernier was among those involved in the Progres Niederkorn debacle under Pedro Caixinha’s doomed management as Rangers exited the Europa League at the first qualifying round.
‘For me and the lads who were here in that Progres game, it was obviously paramount that we got further in Europe,’ he said.
‘Reaching the group stage was a massive achievement. Especially that final qualifier against Ufa when we went down to nine men and held out.
‘Once we got the draw for the group, we felt we could progress into the knockout stage. It has been a great journey but disappointing that we couldn’t get through.
‘The European nights have been out of this world, especially at home. You saw on Thursday night, when 10,000 fans travelled and only a couple of thousand got into the stadium, what it meant to people.
‘There were thousands of fans out in the streets and around the stadium cheering us on. That is why I came to this club. The fans are exceptional. It
is just disappointing that we couldn’t get a result for ourselves or the fans. I’m proud of the lads and everyone at Rangers for the journey that we have taken in European football. We have shown where we can be as a team. But we don’t just look at last night as a missed opportunity. ‘We feel there are a couple of games, like Spartak at home, where we missed an opportunity to take points.’ Tavernier feels the whole experience has further strengthened his ties to Ibrox. A long-term target for West Brom, the 27-year-old reiterated that he would not be looking elsewhere during the January window. ‘I signed a new contract not long ago until 2022,’ added Tavernier. ‘I have got unfinished business here. ‘There is so much Rangers can offer to me as a player — cups, European football and obviously working under the gaffer has been exceptional this season. ‘I just want to continue working hard. I am fully focused on Rangers.’