Rangers captain James Tavernier has insisted that he is not interested in joining Celtic, despite reports linking him with a shock move to the Parkhead club. Tavernier, who has scored 125 goals in 400 appearances for the Ibrox side, said he is happy at Rangers and wants to win more trophies with them.
Tavernier dismisses Celtic rumours
The 32-year-old right-back was reportedly a target for Celtic, who are looking to strengthen their defence after losing Kristoffer Ajer and Jeremie Frimpong in the summer. Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is said to be a fan of Tavernier, who has a contract with Rangers until 2024.
However, Tavernier has dismissed the rumours, saying he is not tempted by the prospect of joining Rangers’ arch-rivals. He told the Daily Record: “I’m not going to lie, it’s flattering to be linked with a big club like Celtic, but I’m very happy at Rangers and I have no intention of leaving. I love this club and I want to make history here. I have a great relationship with the fans, the manager and the players, and I don’t see any reason to change that.”
Tavernier added that he is not worried about losing his place in the Rangers team, despite the arrival of new signings such as Dujon Sterling and Todd Cantwell. He said he welcomes the competition and is confident of his abilities. He said: “I’m not afraid of a challenge. I’ve always had to fight for my place in every club I’ve been at, and I think that’s good for me and the team. I know I have to perform at a high level every week, and I think I’ve done that consistently for Rangers. I’m the captain of this club and I have a responsibility to lead by example. I’m not going to let anyone take my spot easily.”
Tavernier praises Rangers’ form
Tavernier also praised Rangers’ form this season, as they moved to the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 3-0 win over St Johnstone on Sunday. Tavernier scored two late penalties, taking his tally to 19 goals for the season, as Rangers capitalised on Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Tavernier said he was delighted with the result and the performance, and said Rangers are determined to retain their title and challenge for more silverware. He said: “It was a great win for us, especially after Celtic dropped points. We knew we had a chance to go top of the table and we took it. We played well, we controlled the game and we scored three goals. We’re very happy with our form and our confidence is high. We know we have a lot of quality in our squad and we can beat anyone on our day. We’re not going to get complacent, though. We know we have to keep working hard and keep improving. We have a lot of games coming up, including the Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic, and we want to win them all. We’re hungry for more success and we’re not going to give up our title without a fight.”
Tavernier reflects on his career
Tavernier also reflected on his career, which has seen him play for 10 different clubs in England and Scotland, including Newcastle United, Wigan Athletic and Bristol City. He said he has no regrets about his journey, and said he is proud of his achievements with Rangers. He said: “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my career, but I think that’s made me stronger and more mature. I’ve learned a lot from every club I’ve been at, and I’ve always tried to give my best. I think I’ve found my home at Rangers, though. This is the club where I’ve played my best football, where I’ve scored the most goals, where I’ve won the most trophies, and where I’ve felt the most loved. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to play for this club, and I want to repay the faith they’ve shown in me. I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved here, but I’m not satisfied yet. I want to keep breaking records, keep scoring goals, keep winning trophies, and keep making the fans happy. That’s what drives me every day.”
