James Tavernier credits Philippe Clement for Rangers revival

James Tavernier revealed the increased intensity under Philippe Clement has helped Rangers heap pressure on cinch Premiership leaders Celtic.

The Belgian boss has rejuvenated the Govan club since taking over from Michael Beale last October and has already won the Viaplay Cup.

The hard-fought 2-1 home win over Aberdeen on Tuesday meant the Light Blues moved level on points with the Hoops, who get the chance to increase the gap to three points again when they take on Hibernian on Wednesday, which again leaves the Gers with a game in hand.

The Rangers skipper is pleased with their progress.

“The manager has put us in a really good place,” said Tavernier.

“The intensity behind the scenes on the training ground is really picking up and you can see that with the performances that we’re putting in week-in, week-out.

“We’re growing as a team and there are still areas that we can improve on, which is a good thing.

“But we are growing. Last night was a matter of getting three points no matter how we did it and we move on to the next one now.

“We’ve got great characters in the squad. It was a matter of coming in at half-time and just resetting.

“We knew that we conceded a poor goal on our behalf but we knew that we had a really good performance with the ball and we nullified their chances.

“So it was about just going in the second half and keep asking the questions and we managed to do that.

“But the gaffer has brought in a real mentality, that he wants perfection no matter what, if it’s in the training ground or on the pitch and we’re delivering that and we’re coming closer as a team with his ideas, and going from strength to strength.”

Tavernier noted the elation at the end of the game in which Rangers finished with 10 men after substitute Dujon Sterling was sent off in the 88th minute before eight fraught minutes of added time.

“I think the fans see the effort and the performances that we’re putting in,” Tavernier said.

“It always goes hand in hand. If we want the fans to be on our side and really getting right behind us we’ve obviously got to put the performance in and I felt we really put in a good performance.

“We had the right players at the right time for the goals. I thought we dominated well with the possession of the ball. Obviously we lose a goal which we know we can do better on, but other than that we gave them hardly any chances.

“But I felt we managed the game towards the end as well going down to 10 men, and we’ve seen the game out well.”