“What does that say to the captain?”
That was the question posed by former Rangers winger Neil McCann when manager Philippe Clement opted to throw on Neraysho Kasanwirjo instead of James Tavernier during Thursday’s Europa League draw at Olympiakos.
Fellow former Ibrox players Ally McCoist, Steven Thompson and Alan Hutton had earlier stressed how big a call Clement made by benching Tavernier in Piraeus, but the 52nd-minute substitution seemed to carry even more weight.
With the game goalless, Dujon Sterling – who had replaced the captain in the starting XI – made way for Feyenoord loanee Kasanwirjo early in the second half.
Tavernier was eventually brought on for the final five minutes, although he was deployed in a more advanced role on the right-hand side.
Clement explained his decision by saying he was managing the 33-year-old’s game time, but McCann felt the Belgian’s trust could be waning.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound, the former Rangers winger asked: “Does that substitution say Clement trusts Kasanwirjo more than Tavernier as an out-an-out defender?
“It probably does to me.”
Clement wants ‘more than one captain’
Rightly or wrongly, there have always been doubts about Tavernier’s defensive capabilities throughout his nine years at Rangers.
However, the Englishman has been able to drown most of them out with his staggering attacking output, which stands at a remarkable 126 goals and 132 assists in 478 games.
But after a summer of speculation linking him with a move away, there have been concerns his influence going forward is diminishing. His numbers this term sit at one goal and three assists.
That has prompted calls from the Rangers support to see a change at right-back – and those demands intensified after Tavernier endured a tough time in Sunday’s League Cup semi-final win over Motherwell.
The captain, who was also benched for the league win over St Mirren last month, came off on the 67th minute at Hampden and was then dropped for Thursday’s game in Greece.
It is impossible to say whether the result would have been different or not had Tavernier started, but what is clear is both Sterling and Kasanwirjo can be pleased with their defensive displays against a disappointing Olympiakos attack.
Clement hailed his “really solid” defence and heaped praise on his midfield for playing their parts in the draw, which meant Rangers are now unbeaten in their last five away Europa League matches – equalling their longest such run in the competition’s history.
The clearest sign on where Clement ranks Tavernier in his pecking order will now come on Sunday when Hearts visit Ibrox, but the Belgian insisted he wanted to see leadership coming from more than just one player.
“It’s never an easy decision, but I want more than one captain in the group,” the Rangers boss said of his call to bench Tavernier.
“If you [get to] a certain age you can’t play 60 games at the same level. We knew that before the season and we spoke about that.
“It’s about competition for spots. It’s about one team, winning together. That’s Rangers – one team, one family, going for one goal.”
Have your say on Tavernier
After nine years as a mainstay in defence, is Tavernier now no longer Rangers’ first-choice right-back?
If so, who is? And what does that say for the captaincy at Ibrox going forward?
Click here to have your say.