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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andrew Newport

James Tavernier in dream Rangers rollercoaster ending as he looks to complete 'unbelievable' journey

James Tavernier admits it would be an “unbelievable achievement” if he could complete a journey that has taken him from Scotland’s second tier to a place in a major European journey.

The Rangers skipper is the only remaining member of Mark Warburton’s Championship winning squad of 2016.

Now he stands just 90 minutes away from making history by leading Rangers out in this month’s Europa League Final in Seville.

To realise that dream, the Light Blues must overturn RB Leipzig’s one-goal first-leg advantage but Tavernier is already proud of how far he has come at Ibrox.

He said: “Personally it means a lot. It has been a journey. But it has been a journey that has been expected.

“We have always tried to improve each year, from the board down to the players, to youth, we try to improve, try to get better, make the place around us better.

Rangers defender James Tavernier lifts the 2015-16 Championship title (Craig Williamson/SNS Group)

“We want to be in these competitions and doing really well with it. We have been in these competitions and knocking at the door in the past few seasons.

“We are obviously a step closer now. It would be an unbelievable achievement if we could get to the final.”

Ibrox has already helped Rangers scramble the senses of Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade and Braga on their way to the last four.

But Tavernier admits this time it’s his team who will have to hold their nerve as the prepare to walk out into the Govan cauldron for yet another epic Euro night.

“There will maybe be a little bit of nerves but we are playing at home in front of 50,000 fans,” said the captain.

“It’s another good team being put in front of us. Another team of XI players.

(SNS Group)

“The boys will soak it up. We know the fans will be right behind us. That’s what we want and that’s what we’ll need.

“All we can do is give it our best, give it our all and leave everything on that pitch to have no regrets.

“If we do that then we have every fighting chance to get into a final.

“We all have the same goal. We all want to be playing in Seville. We as players obviously want to make the club and the fans proud.”

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