Rangers skipper James Tavernier insists he can’t wait to take his first steps into the Champions League with his trusted sidekick Connor Goldson by his side.
The 29-year-old reckons much of last season’s success, which saw Steven Gerrard’s side romp to a first title in a decade by 25 points, wouldn’t have been possible without Goldson who played every minute of the campaign.
Attention now turns to Europe with Rangers back in the Champions League mix for the first time since 2011.
And Tavernier says vice-captain Goldson, who underwent surgery on a life-threatening heart condition just four years ago, is pivotal to the club’s hopes.
He said: “I’ve loved it from the first moment Connor came in. I was with him at Shrewsbury so I knew him before he came here and we gelled straight away.
“If it wasn’t for Connor next to me we wouldn’t have probably got the amount of success we have had this season.
“He has been such a pivotal part in that success and he leads by example day in day out.
“I’m really proud of what he has done and what he has achieved. I just can’t wait to play in the Champions League next season with him.”
Tavernier himself has been on something of a journey at Rangers.
Six years after being signed by Mark Warburton from Wigan the 29-year-old has had to overcome two manager sackings, watch Celtic romp to a quadruple treble and endure criticism from sections of his own support.
But he insists the hard times have made him a stronger person and made the joy of lifting the title that bit sweeter.
Tavernier told the Rangers official souvenir magazine: “It has obviously been a long road, not just for myself but for my wife, my kids and my family to get to this point.
“I wish it hadn’t taken this long but it has and I’ll always be grateful for the learning curves that have come throughout that journey. It has made me a stronger person.
“But winning the league, I couldn’t digest it straight away. It was a moment I’ll always look back on and remember.”
Rangers completed an invincible league campaign in swashbuckling style. But Tavernier reckons every bit as important was learning how to play ugly and win.
January wins against Celtic, Aberdeen and Hibs were huge and moved the Ibrox side into an unassailable position.
And Tavernier said: “After the New Year derby win we had difficult away games in January at Pittodrie and Easter Road.
“They are obviously the venues that you need to battle to get the points. They were big points and we knew we had to get them.
“I think what has been so pleasing this season is that we have done well in these games. They might not have been pretty but at times we have played ugly and got the win, and sometimes you have to do that if you want to win titles.
“I’m just delighted that the boys have learned how to play ugly and still get the victories we need.”
