James Tavernier: Rangers need to be challenging for the title

Rangers captain James Tavernier has backed the club to push for the title under new manager Steven Gerrard.

Rangers are 7/1 to win the Ladbrokes Premiership this term for the first time since 2011.

Ahead of a big week of European and domestic action, the right-back told us: “We need to be challenging for the title. We’re Rangers so we have to be challenging in all domestic competitions as well as the Europa League.

“The expectation of playing for Rangers is bringing trophies back to the club. The fans expect and we expect it.”

Gerrard’s side defend a 1-0 lead against Croatian side NK Osijek on Thursday night. We’ve got them at 19/20 to get the victory and 15/8 to win to nil.

Then they open their league campaign with a tricky tie away to Aberdeen on Sunday. Rangers are narrow 6/4 favourites at Pittodrie.

Tavernier is setting his sights on two good displays to build some momentum ahead of a long season.

He said: “We want to take the resilience we have shown so far into Thursday’s game and get a clean sheet and get through.

“Then we got to Aberdeen on Sunday with the aim of getting a winning start to the league campaign.”

The club have brought in the likes of Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic and Jon Flanagan this summer. The captain believes the new additions can make a real difference, particularly at the back.

“We’ve got virtually a brand new back four and we have worked really hard together. It’s paid off as we’ve had five clean sheets and we feel we’re getting stronger and stronger.

“But we have also strengthened in midfield and that’s been important too.

“We know we are always going to create chances but we need to keep them out at the other end and I feel the players we have this season means we have a good chance of doing that.

“We have a lot more competition for places and I feel we are a lot stronger this season.”

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