Furious Rangers captain James Tavernier has blasted his teammates after what he branded a “disgraceful” performance in Norway that spoiled new manager Danny Rohl’s debut in charge.
The skipper didn’t mince words after Rangers’ humiliating Europa League defeat to Brann, making it clear that the new boss shouldn’t be blamed for the team’s lack of fight or desire. Instead, Tavernier demanded that every player take a long, hard look in the mirror and question whether they are truly giving everything for the club.
The brutal reality, he admitted, was that the team fell far short in Bergen. Brann — far from one of Europe’s elite — comfortably dismantled the Scottish side, leaving Tavernier disgusted by the display. Outpaced, outmuscled, and completely outplayed, Rangers were left bottom of their Europa League group, as home fans mocked them by chanting, “You’re f*****g shite” after the third goal.
“It’s just a disgraceful performance, plain and simple,” Tavernier fumed. “In all my years here, I’ve never seen this level of inconsistency and lack of fight. Some players only show emotion after we lose — it’s too late then. We all have to take a deeper look at ourselves because it’s just not good enough.”
He continued: “The manager can give us instructions, but we have to show that on the pitch. We were second-best to everything — first balls, second balls — and that’s unacceptable for a Rangers player. Fight should be a given. Even if the game’s ugly, we’ve got to battle for every ball. Right now, it’s far too easy for teams to play against us, and that’s the most painful part.”
Around 1,500 travelling fans had made the trip to Norway, hoping Rohl’s appointment would spark a turnaround. Instead, they saw the same chaos that led to Russell Martin’s dismissal. With Rohl expected to make major changes, Tavernier admitted that many players should be worried about their futures.
“Everyone should be,” he said. “Wearing this shirt is an honour. You should be proud to play for Rangers, to make history here — but tonight was nowhere near the required standard. The manager’s only had a few days with us, but the fight and determination have to come from within. That’s not something you can be taught — you either have it or you don’t, and right now we’re not showing it.”
Tavernier admitted he’s furious — but isn’t sure his teammates share that same anger. “I’m raging,” he confessed. “This is the first time in my Rangers career I’ve experienced this level of underperformance. We keep having meetings, having words, but it’s not sinking in. That’s what’s making me so angry — it feels like the message just isn’t getting through.”
Rohl later defended his selection choices, refusing to single out any player for blame. “I don’t think it’s fair to focus on individuals,” he said. “Our whole team performance wasn’t good enough. I picked certain players for tactical reasons, but what matters most is that we improve collectively.”
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