Rangers’ James Taverner ‘livid’ at being subbed out – sources | OneFootball

James Tavernier experienced his first-ever subbing under any recent Rangers manager on Thursday as a ‘tactical’ change, with the captain removed on around 60 minutes.

He had been slaughtered by Lyon forward Fofana especially viciously, and despite not having his own worst-ever display, it was still pretty poor and manager Philippe Clement effectively spared his blushes by hauling him off.

But Ibrox Noise sources understand Tavernier is ‘livid’ at Clement in the same way that Todd Cantwell was v Aris; Tavernier feels scapegoated by the manager that he removed him when he never removes him.

In truth, Tavernier’s face told its own story on Thursday, looked genuinely shellshocked at being removed.

This is of course arrogance on Tavernier’s part, that he feels untouchable and that he ‘shouldn’t’ ever be taken off for any reason aside injury, but it’s equally on the club and Clement (just like all his predecessors) that the captain has been put into this position, placed on this pedestal and been made invulnerable.

And following his removal v Lyon, he is said to feel ‘put out’ that he was removed well before full time.

A breakdown between he and Clement?

Well as we recall Clement and Vaclav Cerny majorly embraced after Hibernian, after an incident with the fans from the Czechia international, and they had a major chat together – Clement had a bit of a pep talk with his winger.

But Tavernier and Clement just barely symbolically high-fived with a mild embrace and that was that.

There’s no doubt Tavernier was huffing, and feeling scapegoated Todd Cantwell-style, but this is of course ridiculous – and it’s because he’s been made so immune that ‘you can’t possibly substitute me’.

A lot may be revealed about this situation when Clement’s Rangers XI and bench is announced on Sunday evening.