It’s a big night in Cyprus for matchday two as the squad look to follow-up September’s victory over Real Betis and make it two wins from two in Group C. However, it has been a difficult week for the squad following Saturday’s defeat to Aberdeen and the departure of Michael Beale.
Sitting down with RangersTV in Cyprus, Tavernier said: “It has been frustrating, to obviously lose at the weekend and for that to result in the decision by the board to move on Michael is disappointing on our behalf as players because ultimately, we get given the tactics, the decisions to do on the pitch and we fell short.
“I think it comes down to the small and clinical moments in games. From the start of the season to now it is about taking our chances and we need to. We are creating them, whether it’s a lot or it is few but when we do it is important that we take them.
“There's going to be criticism when you are not picking up the points. When you play for Rangers, you are here to win games, you are here to win every game no matter who the opponent is – that is what we all signed up for and that's what the fans want.”
Tavernier is a player who knows interim boss Steven Davis well having played alongside him in Light Blue. The skipper described him as the ‘best professional’ he has seen in the game and insists the squad will do all they can to turn things around on the pitch.
He continued: “We have got a lot of experience in the squad, but it is just about getting round each other and working hard in training. Obviously, now we are backing Davo, and we have full belief in him, and we all respect him.
“For me, he is the best professional I have seen in the game who I have played with. He is a real role model with how he conducts himself on and off the pitch. He had that impact on the players when he was a player so everyone has got great respect for him so I know whatever he asks, we will do.
Looking ahead to the match against Aris Limassol, Tavernier said Rangers’ full focus is gaining three more points in Group C.
He continued: “I'm expecting them to be aggressive in the press when we build-up, they like to keep the forward players up, so we have to be really balanced when we are attacking.
“They do like to counter-attack but that obviously gives us an opportunity even when they are attacking to counter them so it is going to be a good game, a good test but we know what we need to do, and I am more than confident we can get the result.
“We have got to build on the Betis result, and the quickest response in football is your next game. European games are always different compared to domestic, there’s a lot more football in it so it is really exciting that we can get back to European football and we want to put three more points on the board.”