James Tavernier slammed ahead of Rangers v Celtic Scottish League Cup final
Rangers captain James Tavernier has been slammed by Alan Rough ahead of the Scottish League Cup final against Celtic.
He believes that Philippe Clement will have a talk with him before deciding the lineups for the final at Hampden Park on Sunday, 15 December.
However, despite his struggles against Daizen Maeda in previous Old Firms, Rough would still start the 33-year-old.
He told PLZ Soccer on 13 December at 25:51: “It’s the manager who has to make that decision. Maeda has run him ragged.
“I would have a chat with him and see how he is feeling. He’s [Clement] honestly going to say to him ‘You’ve been toasted every time you play the game.’
“I would play him because he’s more of a goal threat than Sterling.”
Dujon Sterling has to start over James Tavernier for Rangers v Celtic
Tavernier has consistently struggled when facing Celtic’s Maeda in previous Old Firm derbies, often being outpaced and outmanoeuvred.
Despite his attacking abilities and goal threat from set-pieces, his defensive vulnerabilities have been repeatedly exposed in these high-stakes matches.
Sterling, on the other hand, brings more pace and a stronger defensive presence, qualities that could better suit the tactical demands of the match.
Rangers can’t afford to concede goals from defensive lapses, especially in a cup final where every mistake could be costly.
While the 33-year-old has been given numerous opportunities to prove himself against Celtic without much success, introducing Sterling could provide the necessary balance, focusing on containing Maeda rather than just looking to score.
This might be a tactical shift that Clement should seriously consider to help cause an upset in the game.
In other Rangers news, an exclusive source has issued an update for the 2025/26 season with the club making an ultimate decision.
For more Rangers news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.