Ibrox captain James Tavernier has promised Celtic will see a different Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.
The Gers skipper and his teammates flapped under the pressure of the League Cup Final and surrendered yet another trophy to their Old Firm rivals in an abysmal display.
But amid the comments there’s a feeling of deja vu and frustration that the Rangers captain has not yet learned that it’s the talking the players do on the pitch, and not off it, that really matters.
When asked if Celtic will see a different Rangers at Hampden, James Tavernier promised “definitely”.
“We have to because we knew the performance in the final wasn’t good enough from our point of view,” said James Tavernier.
“There is way more to give from us. So, yeah, definitely.”
James Tavernier Scottish Cup talk is cheap
Rangers captain James Tavernier has been around the block with the Ibrox club long enough to know what is expected when the Gers plays Celtic.
But if the flying right-back thinks the tinge of frustration with these potentially empty words is something, wait and see what happens if the Ibrox side fail to deliver at Hampden.
There was plenty of these empty promises and nonsense comments in the run up to the last game and all it did was heap pressure on the side and management who collectively bottled it in Mount Florida.
Rangers have taken several steps back against their rivals in the last 18 months and after a season of domination look a timid, wet and unbecoming Ibrox side in the face of Celtic.
If James Tavernier wants to earn the respect of the Rangers support in this fixture then he needs to do his talking on the pitch in the Scottish Cup clash and not in giving journalists what they want with these soundbites.
Talk really is cheap and for so many of these Rangers players, victory at Hampden come the end of April could prove a difference maker when it comes to their legacies at the club.
After watching Celtic romp to four trebles before securing 55 in 2021, to let the Parkhead club secure another within two years would be a damning indictment of the Yorkshireman’s captaincy and heads would begin to roll.
James Tavernier must know that winning this Scottish Cup could be the difference between keeping Rangers fans onside with him as skipper and his Ibrox legacy intact.
So enough of the promises and soundbites James, just go and deliver for the fans.
Meanwhile, the Union Bears continue to protest the Ibrox club’s directorate.
