James Tavernier is so glad to end Rangers' wait for the title
‘I’ve experienced such a rollercoaster ride since I first came here’: James Tavernier is so glad to end Rangers’ wait for the title after years of hurt
- James Tavernier described Rangers’ long-awaited title success as ‘monumental’
- Tavernier has been superb this season but previously endured much criticism
- Right-back is eager for Rangers to stay focused and progress in Europa League
- Veteran Jermain Defoe described winning his first league title as ‘so special’
Vindication will be cast in silver for James Tavernier. After five years at Ibrox, and no little suffering, the Rangers captain will claim his own place in history when he hoists the Premiership trophy above his head.
Tavernier has produced the season of his life to help inspire Steven Gerrard’s side to success. Eleven Premiership goals and ten assists is a phenomenal return for a right-back who attained a new level of consistency prior to his recent knee injury.
It wasn’t always like this. Tavernier joined Rangers when they were still in the Championship. And the spotlight has shone harshly on the 29-year-old at times since.
James Tavernier is delighted with Rangers’ title win after experiencing a ‘rollercoaster ride’
In December 2019, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton branded Tavernier a ‘serial loser’. Then came a furore when he was a little too honest in his programme notes about how Steven Gerrard’s side had struggled to cope with aggressive opponents.
Tavernier, though, showed the mental toughness required to emerge as a winner when the Ibrox club needed it most.
‘There are no words that can describe it,’ he told Rangers TV. ‘I am delighted for the club, the fans, the players and everyone that has been involved.
‘Especially the fans, they’ve been in the dumps for a long time and I’ve experienced such a rollercoaster ride since I first came here.
‘To do it this year, with everything surrounding this season, is monumental, not just to the boys that have contributed but for the fans because they have been with us since day one.
‘This is a terrific day for the club and I hope everyone enjoys it and soaks it in.
The right-back previously endured much criticism but is now producing superb performances
‘I am still absorbing it. Through all the criticism I’ve received over five years and the comments from pundits, I had people who stuck by me and my family and it has really helped me push through and I know where this club needs to be.
‘When I first came here, I wanted to put the club back where it belongs. It has taken longer than expected but you couldn’t ask for a better season from the boys.
‘We have finally brought 55 back home to the club and it’s such an amazing feeling.’
Tavernier hopes he might be fit in time for the Old Firm match at Celtic Park on March 21 — and is clear this season is not done yet.
A Europa League last-16 tie against Slavia Prague is next up for Gerrard’s men, before they kick off their Scottish Cup campaign next month.
‘We have got to soak up today and really enjoy this moment but we do have really important games coming up,’ said Tavernier (below).
‘We have to try and get into the next round in the Europa League and we have the possibility of doing that if we apply ourselves right, which we know we can. We also have a cup to play in.
‘We want to keep strong in the league, we are not going to take our foot off the gas because we have won it. We want to finish this season strong and put a marker down.’
Ever-present centre-back Connor Goldson also reflected on the journey travelled under Gerrard, admitting the setbacks of the first two seasons had been hard to take.
‘Since I’ve been here it’s been three years of hard work to get to this point,’ said Goldson.
‘We were talking about it the other day. The new boys here don’t understand the pain we have been through for the last three years, Tav for five years.
‘It’s been painful. Cups, leagues, everything. We needed focus for this season and it has lived it up to it.’
38-year-old Jermain Defoe described winning the first league title of his career as ‘so special’
For veteran striker Jermain Defoe, a first title medal of his career will arrive at the age of 38.
‘I sensed it from the beginning,’ he said. ‘When we came back for pre-season, with all that was going on, I sensed a different sort of focus.
‘That focus where we don’t want to come second, we want to be first. We want to be champions.
‘I always knew it would happen at some point in my career. That’s the thing that has kept me going. It’s so special.’
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