Rangers captain James Tavernier is confident that his team is improving under manager Philippe Clement, despite a tough result in the League Cup final against Celtic on Sunday. The Ibrox skipper insists that the squad is a much stronger side than the one that faltered in the first Old Firm of the season.
The 3-3 draw at Hampden, which saw Rangers take the lead before battling back twice to force a penalty shootout, ended in another painful derby defeat for Clement, who is still seeking his first victory over Celtic in six attempts. This run of results has increased pressure on the Belgian manager. However, Tavernier believes the performance on Sunday showed Rangers can match their fierce rivals.
“We’re getting better and stronger as a team compared to the first Old Firm game this season,” Tavernier said. “Sunday was decided on a penalty shootout, and I think that shows we’re improving. We are especially growing as a team, considering how young we are, and we just need to keep working hard.”
Despite the defeat, which denied Rangers a trophy, Tavernier remains optimistic about the team’s progression. “That was the aim – to win a trophy – and we’ve not done that. But we will look back on this and find small improvements in different areas,” he added. “In the second half, we need to be more clinical. There was a four-vs-one chance, and those are the fine margins in big games. You have to take your chances when they come.”
Tavernier commented on the incident, saying, “You can see the continued foul in the box or on the line, and that’s obviously considered in the box. But it wasn’t given. I was too far away to see it, but it’s too late for that now.”