uneasydaz
Well-Known Member
RANGERS boss Steven Gerrard has told James Tavernier to shut Chris Sutton up — by winning the Betfred Cup Final.
Former Celtic star Sutton branded Light Blues captain Tav a “serial loser” ahead of the Old Firm showdown.
The pundit, who will cover the final for BT Sport, also insisted defeat to the holders would see Gerrard branded a “nearly manager”.
But the Gers boss has told Tavernier to silence all of his critics by lifting Rangers’ first major trophy in eight years.
He said: “I haven’t gone over James’ career in fine detail in terms of the setbacks or good parts.
“But what I do know is that he is a fantastic player and a good person and he has done ever so well to have the opportunity to be in a final.
Now he has got to make sure he is on the right end of it.
“Football always gives you a chance if you’re the right age to right wrongs and prove people wrong.”
On Sutton’s pre-match outburst, Gerrard added: “I am not going to get involved in those comments.
“I don’t think that person deserves the airtime so let’s just focus on the players that are going to be involved in the final.
We are in a game where there are a lot of constructive opinions about players collectively and individually and we are also in an era where there are people that want to make unnecessary headlines.
“That is life. We all have to deal with that. I am not going to give someone headlines who has got absolutely nothing to do with this final.”
Tavernier, who would be the first Gers captain to lift a major trophy since David Weir in 2011, labelled Sutton’s comments “irrelevant” ahead of the sellout final.
He said: “He is a previous player and it is something that maybe you shouldn’t be saying about other players but I don’t take any notice.
“It is a bit irrelevant but I’ll brush it to one side. I won’t be calling him.
“He can have his say and if it pleases him, it pleases him.
But I have to do my talking on the pitch.
“Is it disrespectful? Yeah, it is. But I shrug things off that are negative.
“I don’t need negativity in my life.
The fans have waited long enough.
“I have been here for five years and we are all hungry to win silverware and we know that we need to bring silverware back to Ibrox.”
Former Celtic star Sutton branded Light Blues captain Tav a “serial loser” ahead of the Old Firm showdown.
The pundit, who will cover the final for BT Sport, also insisted defeat to the holders would see Gerrard branded a “nearly manager”.
But the Gers boss has told Tavernier to silence all of his critics by lifting Rangers’ first major trophy in eight years.
He said: “I haven’t gone over James’ career in fine detail in terms of the setbacks or good parts.
“But what I do know is that he is a fantastic player and a good person and he has done ever so well to have the opportunity to be in a final.
Now he has got to make sure he is on the right end of it.
“Football always gives you a chance if you’re the right age to right wrongs and prove people wrong.”
On Sutton’s pre-match outburst, Gerrard added: “I am not going to get involved in those comments.
“I don’t think that person deserves the airtime so let’s just focus on the players that are going to be involved in the final.
We are in a game where there are a lot of constructive opinions about players collectively and individually and we are also in an era where there are people that want to make unnecessary headlines.
“That is life. We all have to deal with that. I am not going to give someone headlines who has got absolutely nothing to do with this final.”
Tavernier, who would be the first Gers captain to lift a major trophy since David Weir in 2011, labelled Sutton’s comments “irrelevant” ahead of the sellout final.
He said: “He is a previous player and it is something that maybe you shouldn’t be saying about other players but I don’t take any notice.
“It is a bit irrelevant but I’ll brush it to one side. I won’t be calling him.
“He can have his say and if it pleases him, it pleases him.
But I have to do my talking on the pitch.
“Is it disrespectful? Yeah, it is. But I shrug things off that are negative.
“I don’t need negativity in my life.
The fans have waited long enough.
“I have been here for five years and we are all hungry to win silverware and we know that we need to bring silverware back to Ibrox.”
