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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Graeme Young

James Tavernier reveals Rangers Europa League sixth sense as he namechecks Ibrox leadership inner circle

Expectant Rangers skipper James Tavernier has revealed he sensed something special was brewing in the Europa League WEEKS before securing their place in Seville.

The competition's top scorer is Ibrox royalty and he can cement his place in club folklore by lifting the trophy in Spain on Wednesday night.

Rangers' march to the Final has thrilled supporters but he's believed for a while that a date with destiny against Eintracht Frankfurt has been looming.

Wins in the knockout stages over Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade, Braga and RB Leipzig has him convinced in Europa League glory.

Speaking to UEFA's official website, he said: "We've come together so well, and we've been pushing each other on and it's no surprise we're in the Final. We thoroughly deserve it because we push each other every single day to better ourselves.

"You want to compete with the best teams in Europe. It sets a marker where you want to get to as a minimum, you want to beat that, and we've done that.

"Funnily enough, I had a conversation a couple of weeks ago with Connor (Goldson) and I said, 'We've got a good chance of this’.

"We've beaten Dortmund and you've got to back yourselves. We're playing against another team that's knocked out another favourite in the competition: West Ham are in the Premier League.

"So we'll know to respect (Frankfurt), because they've earned the right to be in the final, but we'll fully back ourselves going into a one-off game."

Tavernier wears the armband, however, he is quick to point to other big hitters within the Ibrox dressing room when it comes to sharing the leadership roles.

And he has namechecked loanee Aaron Ramsey as a key voice among the established names at Rangers.

He added: "It's just been trying to be the best version I can be on the pitch for the players, trying to lead by example and be the best driving force I can. Hopefully, I can carry on doing that when the final comes.

"We've got a great group of boys: great experience in Greggsy (Allan McGregor) and Davo (Steven Davis), Aaron Ramsey who's joined us, Connor [Goldson]... there's a few more that I can name.

"We're a great group of boys and it is the best changing room I've been in. If anyone needs a push, we're all there together. If anything needs changing, we'll all have a chat with each other, but we're all on the same page."

Tavernier is the leading candidate to secure the tournament's golden boot with a tally of seven – an achievement made more remarkable as a right-back.

But goals and assists is what the former Newcastle is all about as he admits he has looked to follow the lead of a some of the all-time greats.

He said: "I always loved getting forward, even if it's in training; I love scoring goals. I guess I've just been really competitive since I was young; I always wanted to get on the scoresheet. You look at Trent (Alexander-Arnold), at Reece James, at Dani Alves, at Marcelo, at Roberto Carlos… you see very attacking full-backs in the modern-day game now, players (who are) defenders not just to defend but you're also a main attacking point [whether] that's creating crosses, assists or goals.

"I always looked at Marcelo or Dani Alves; they were my go-to guys, even Cafu. When I was much younger, I loved watching the Brazilians; how they played and how attacking they were. You look at how decorated Dani Alves is, and Marcelo; how they've been top of the game throughout their career. They're people that I really (look up to).

"Do the forwards at Rangers feel threatened by my goalscoring? I'm still going for Alfredo (Morelos) He's our top goalscorer, and I've got to get three more to beat him. That's my aim so I'm looking forward to it."

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