James Tavernier has explained the benefit of Rangers' mid-season break as he opened up on half-time conversations during a stirring comeback at Falkirk last weekend.
Tavernier and his teammates will fly back from Marbella on Friday, having spent five days in Spain. The trip, which head coach Danny Rohl pushed for, having had a positive experience of a similar camp during his time as Bayern Munich assistant manager, is understood to have included time for team bonding, tactical training and a bounce game.
With Rangers locked in a title fight as the split approaches for the first time since they last won the trophy in 2021, Tavernier, like his manager, knows that this week spent together as a group is crucial. As were the three points at Falkirk Stadium, which looked an unlikely outcome in the first half of a game they trailed 2-0 in before winning 6-3.
"It's obviously just bonding time with the boys, getting close together," Tavernier said, explaining the thought process behind the warm-weather break.
"We know we're going into the last stretch now, so a warm-weather training camp, getting a few sessions together [is good].
"I think it's more about getting the boys together, really, because the only time we had this was probably pre-season. This is a time where we can spend five days with each other and just grow together [to make] sure that we finish the season off strong."
Five goals after the break at Falkirk ensured the mood on a Monday morning flight was positive for Tavernier and the squad. A Tochi Chukwuani goal and Youssef Chermiti effort either side of the midway point quickly restored parity, with Falkirk having raced into a deserved two-goal lead. The two halves were 'night and day', Tavernier insists, in terms of performance. Rohl needs to see more of the version that re-emerged from the dressing room and not what unfolded before half-time.
"I think obviously it's night and day, performance-wise, from the first half to second half. We obviously caused our own problems in the first half," the Rangers captain says.
"We never want to make any excuses about pitches and obviously it was a difficult surface to play on, but it's two teams playing on it and I think we didn't utilise it the way we should have in the first half.
"We should have maybe turned Falkirk a little bit more [instead of] trying to play pretty football, but I thought the mentality and the resilience from the boys and the reaction - especially just getting that first goal just before half-time - and then the second half performance was a real strong performance from ourselves.
"It was a difficult surface, a difficult team to play against because they've been in form this season and I felt that we responded really well."
Speaking after the game, Rohl explained that, in keeping with his messaging so far, half time was about solutions instead of anger. Tavernier agrees, saying that although there have been stern words at times from the German, it has been a 'consistent' calm from the dugout that makes the difference at these high-stress intervals.
Tavernier adds: "Yeah, he's been consistent with that - I think there have obviously been moments since his arrival where he's told players off, which is obviously needed, but [he has] a level of calmness.
"The gaffer obviously knows what the team can deliver, so it was a sense of calmness at half-time. Getting back to what we need to do in this game and I felt the boys really responded really well.
"I think there was obviously a lot of frustration coming into half time, there were obviously a few words, but it was obviously a matter of just calming down, getting back to what we know and, as I said, utilising what this game really needed.
"I felt we went - not long, long - but we used the ball in behind, we had runners in behind and the impact from Bojan, getting two goals, and Nico getting a goal and an assist, and obviously Youssef. I think we utilised it a lot more and I think the subs made a great impact as well."
It was a good day for Bojan Miovski, who is approaching the end of the season in fine form. On the margins for much of the campaign, two goals, added to a strike against Dundee United the previous week, speaks to a depth of options that should only help Rohl in these upcoming five post-split fixtures.
"We need everyone in form at any given time," Tavernier added.
"It was good to see Max [Aarons] come on and get a chance and give a performance for the team. We had Dio and Baz [Connor Barron] coming on, Bojan too.
"Lads who come on have to make an impact because they obviously have to change it. I felt they did that. We're a squad and we need the whole squad for these games until the end of the season, they're all cup finals. Everyone's going to be needed and asked for."
Read more:
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For Tavernier, who is out of contract in June, the prospect of lifting the Scottish Premiership for only a second time in his decade-long service at the club is within touching distance. Just five wins away. His messaging for now is clear: focus internally before thinking about any externals.
"We've just got to get five wins and that's what we can only focus on ourselves, we can't really focus on anyone else, we've just got to get five wins and hopefully that takes us where we want to be at the end of the season."
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