James Tavernier has set Rangers up for Celtic embarrassment again – Tam McManus
Tam McManus has suggested Rangers have set themselves up again after James Tavernier’s latest comments on Celtic.
The Light Blues’ skipper warned that The Hoops were set to see the real Rangers in April’s Scottish Cup semi-final clash at Hampden Park (Scottish Sun, 20 March), after defeat in the Viaplay Cup final on 26 February.
McManus has since reacted and believes Rangers’ players should save their talking for when they step onto the pitch.
“Celtic do their talking on the pitch and Rangers keep setting themselves up for these headlines,” said McManus (PLZ Football Show, 11m 34s, 20 March).
“I don’t think it makes a great deal of difference but it riles the other team up. Keep it quiet, keep it in house. You don’t give the opposition something to hit you over the head with.
“It was Fashion Sakala the last game and Celtic turned them over.”
Strange
Tavernier’s comments have been blown slightly out of context, but the players should perhaps be slightly less reckless in front of the media.
Comments can be spun in any way a newspaper would like and Celtic once again have added incentive heading into next month’s semi-final.
Sakala was guilty ahead of the Scottish League Cup final and it’s something Michael Beale may need to clamp down on. We rarely hear similar comments emerge from the Celtic camp.
The Scottish Cup semi-final is a do-or-die moment for the Gers. Defeat will almost certainly gift Celtic the cup and see Ange Postecoglou’s side to within touching distance of a famous treble. Despite the gulf between the two sides, Beale’s men need to deliver.
They cannot afford to finish the season empty-handed – and if they do, the Light Blues’ boss will come under the spotlight.
Beale must ensure he learns from past mistakes and throw Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin in from the outset at Hampden Park. Both players have been added to make a difference in the big games and after previous failures, the Gers boss has to gamble.
In other Rangers news, the board should now be feeling the pressure after images emerge from stands in 4-2 win over Motherwell.