close
close

James Tavernier: Rangers manager Philippe Clement defends captain amid fan frustration after Celtic defeat | Football News

James Tavernier: Rangers manager Philippe Clement defends captain amid fan frustration after Celtic defeat | Football News

Rangers manager Philippe Clement has defended the under-fire James Tavernier, insisting he is a “true captain”.

Tavernier came in for a lot of criticism from the Light Blues’ fans for his role in their defeat to Celtic at the Old Firm, with one fan even taking aim at him when he returned to Ibrox after the game.

The 32-year-old has been at the club since 2015, winning one Premier League title and one Scottish Cup, and Clement understands why disgruntled fans single him out.

Sunday September 15th 11:00 am

Starts at 12:00


“When the team is not performing, the captain is always the first one the fans point to,” he said ahead of Sunday’s match against Dundee United, live on Sky Sports.

“I’ve been in that situation before when I was a player at Brugge for 10 years. I’ve had great moments with titles, cups and victories against big teams, but also really bad moments when fans were really angry and came to talk to me first.

“That’s part of being a captain. Tav has remained very mature, he understands the frustration. He is also frustrated, he wants to win more matches and titles with the club.

“You know, as a manager or captain you are a bit of a symbol and you are the first point of contact for people. We will always be under barricades when times are tough.

Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights from the Old Firm between Celtic and Rangers.

“It’s easy to be a captain when things are going well. The real captains are the ones who help you move forward in difficult moments. That’s what Tav did, moving the team forward and helping the new guys integrate.”

Rangers are currently fourth in the Scottish Premiership and five points behind Celtic in the title race.

Although Clement would have preferred to “play the next day” after their Old Firm defeat, he believes the international break helped them.

“We used the two weeks to get some players fitter as they came back from injury, to get into better physical condition and to integrate the new lads.

Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Kris Boyd reacts to Rangers’ 3-0 defeat at Celtic, calling his former team an embarrassment as they lack any leader. He is convinced that no Rangers player will fit into the Celtic team.

“We understand the frustration and anger, and that they want to win against their rivals. We want that too.

“It’s not pleasant, but it does help you put things into perspective the next day.

“Over the last two weeks I’ve seen a lot of fans in Glasgow who were very positive and supportive of the club, because they understood that it was the start with a lot of new players and a new project. Don’t just focus on the negative and the heat-of-the-moment reaction.”

Scottish Premiership & SWPL on Sky Sports

DUNFERMLINE, SCOTLAND - JULY 6: A general view of the SPFL match ball during a pre-season friendly between Dunfermline Athletic and St Mirren at KDM Group East End Park, on July 6, 2024, in Dunfermline, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group)

Sky Sport – From 2024/25, up to 60 Scottish Premiership matches will be available across Sky Sports’ main channels, including Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event, plus a minimum of five SWPL matches.

Sky Sports News – Scottish football fans can enjoy Sky Sports News (channel 409) 24/7 editorial coverage of the Premiership and SWPL throughout the season.

Sky Sport Digital – Follow all the latest news from Scottish football on SkySports.com and the app, including exclusive features and interviews, plus special live blog reports, in-game clips from matches live on Sky Sports and free highlights.

Sky Sports Social – In addition to coverage and visibility of the competition across all of Sky Sports’ key social media channels, the bespoke X page @ScotlandSky remains the home of all Scottish football content on Sky Sports.

Show highlights – Watch a special overview of the Premiership top competition every week on Sky Sports Football.

Sky Sports is the home of domestic football in the UK and Ireland, with matches from the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Women’s Premier League, Premier League, WSL, EFL and more.

Ad Content | Stream Sky Sports on NOW

Stream Sky Sports live without a contract on a monthly or daily membership on NOW. Instant access to live action from the Scottish Premiership, Premier League, EFL, F1 and much more.

More information can be found here…