Rangers Captain James Tavernier Emphasizes Not Expecting to Start

James Tavernier, captain of Rangers, has stated that he never anticipates being in the starting lineup for games, despite his leadership status. Tavernier, who has historically been the primary right-back at Ibrox, has experienced rotation with Dujon Sterling under manager Philippe Clement this season. Ahead of Thursday’s Europa League fixture against Tottenham, the 33-year-old commented: “As a footballer, you can never expect to start your game.” He elaborated, “You’ll get too comfortable. You don’t want that. You always want to be pushing yourself. Every single week, I never expect myself to start. I always try and push myself. That’s what I continue to do, even when I’m not playing. It’s just pushing hard and obviously helping the team.” When questioned about whether his mindset has shifted now that he is no longer a guaranteed starter, Tavernier responded: “No, just keep working hard every single day, which I do.” The Englishman expressed his anticipation for an “exciting week,” which includes Tottenham’s visit to Ibrox, followed by Clement’s squad facing Celtic in the League Cup final on Sunday. Tavernier affirmed the team’s responsibility, stating: “It’s down to us to grasp it, basically. It’s all in our hands. If we want to go out there and put the performances in and get the rewards for it, then it’s down to us to do that.”