Deja-vu for theRangers skipper James Tavernier who collected yet another runners-up medal at Hampden Park against Celtic yesterday evening…
It was the the 33 year-old right back’s seventh silver medal in nine years when competing versus Celtic on the domestic scene – and a familiar story for his teammates as the Hoops won back the Scottish League Cup trophy from their rivals.
Speaking post-match to the media, Tavernier drew parallels to theRangers’ iconic penalty shootout defeat in the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt two years ago.
“Obviously it brings flashbacks to Seville when we were in the Europa League final. It’s never nice to lose a game on penalties, but I’m proud of the lads who stepped up and were man enough to take a penalty. It just didn’t go our way,” the disappointed captain of theRangers said.
"Obviously it brings flashbacks of Seville when we were in the Europa League Final." 🗣️@RangersFC's James Tavernier in conversation after today's penalty shootout loss to Celtic 🔵#PremierSportsCup pic.twitter.com/h1DHFIzfdM
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) December 15, 2024
Despite leading at the interval, the Ibrox veteran was to be left disappointed an hour and a half later as he watched his opposite number Callum McGregor lift yet another trophy.
Tavernier explained what happened: “We put ourselves in a good position at half-time. We wanted to keep doing the right things, go out as if it’s 0-0 and grab our chances. We’re disappointed with a couple of the goals and the manner that we conceded them, but we managed to put ourselves back in a great position.
“These games come down to small chances and being clinical, we had a 4 vs 1 chance in the second half and they’re the moments where you have to finish it off.”
On having just two days in between playing Tottenham in the Europa League and facing Celtic at Hampden in the Premier Sports Cup Final, Tavernier was making no excuses.
“If you play for (the)Rangers, you’re required to play every three days, no matter who you’re playing. That’s why we’ve got a big squad. The boys recovered really well, on both sides you saw lads cramp up. That’s the nature of the game. You’ve just got to keep on pushing and keep working hard for the rest of the season.”
With Celtic 11 points ahead of theRangers in the Scottish Premiership and effectively having one hand on the league trophy, a ninth Treble, and a sixth in nine seasons is well and truly on the cards. Meanwhile, It is looking like it will be another disappointing season for James Tavernier.
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Thirties
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Respectfully James, I never did see a Celtic player cramp up once!