Rangers Star’s Brutal Explanation for Poor Form After Braga Draw Leaves Fans Claiming He’s Made Things ‘So, So Much Worse.

Rangers travelled to Portugal searching for a performance that would steady the mood around the club, but instead their 1–1 draw with SC Braga has set off an entirely different kind of storm. The match itself had its positives Rangers scored first, showed flashes of composure, and fought hard defensively in difficult moments but it was a post-match interview from one of the club’s senior figures that completely dominated the conversation. What was meant to be a moment of leadership has now become the central talking point, with fans insisting the player’s brutally honest explanation for Rangers’ poor form has “made everything so, so much worse.”

Danny Röhl, still in the early stages of shaping his Rangers identity, could at least take encouragement from his side’s start in Portugal. They were sharp, aggressive and purposeful, carrying the kind of attacking threat that has too often been missing in recent weeks. That early momentum paid off midway through the first half when a sweeping Rangers move down the right created the opening goal. It was a moment that briefly lifted the travelling support and seemed to suggest that Röhl’s methods were beginning to take hold.

For a few minutes, Rangers appeared to be in full control. They pressed intelligently, circulated the ball confidently, and looked capable of extending their lead. But as has happened repeatedly this season, their grip on the game began to loosen. The passing became slower, the press less coordinated, and the overall energy dropped noticeably. Braga sensed it immediately, gradually working themselves into dangerous areas and forcing Rangers deeper.

The equaliser eventually arrived shortly after the interval. Braga capitalised on a spell of sustained pressure, with Rangers unable to clear their lines before the Portuguese side finally found the back of the net. From there, the match became a tense, cagey affair. Rangers had moments to reassert themselves but lacked the precision required in the final third. At the other end, they were forced into several last-ditch interventions as Braga pushed for a late winner.

On paper, a 1–1 draw away from home in Europe is far from catastrophic. For Röhl, there were signs of improvement and moments of resilience that can be built upon. But the entire narrative of the night changed once players emerged for post-match media duties.

One Rangers player stepped forward, initially unnamed, to give his assessment. What began like any standard post-match interview quickly became something entirely different. Instead of the usual blend of positives and “we go again” clichés, he delivered a raw and startlingly blunt explanation for the team’s struggles  one that immediately reverberated across social media. Only halfway through the interview did he reveal himself as James Tavernier, and by that point the shockwaves were already spreading.

Taverner did not soften a single word.

“We start well, we score first, and then we drop off,” he admitted. “It’s been happening too often. Confidence isn’t where it should be. When the belief dips in key moments, you stop playing with the intensity needed at this level. That’s on all of us. We need to look at ourselves before we look at anyone else.”

The phrase that struck supporters the hardest was “confidence isn’t where it should be.” The idea that Rangers’ belief collapses even after taking the lead left many fans stunned. In their view, a captain admitting such mental fragility does not simply highlight a problem it exposes a deeper issue that may take far longer to fix.

BBC pundit Neil McCann described Tavernier’s comments as “a warning sign that cannot be ignored.”

“When you hear a Rangers captain admitting the team’s belief drops immediately after scoring, that’s a major red flag,” he said. “It tells you the mentality isn’t right. That’s not something you often hear from leaders at that level.”

Danny Röhl, addressing the media shortly afterwards, attempted to regain control of the narrative. He praised the opening spell, acknowledged the dips in performance, and stressed the importance of continuity and patience.

“We are in a process,” Röhl said calmly. “There are good moments tonight. We took the lead, we showed fight. But yes, we want to control games more, especially after scoring. Confidence comes through repetition, through clarity. We continue to build.”

But even Röhl’s measured approach couldn’t dampen the intensifying reaction online. Within minutes of the interview airing, fans expressed mixed emotions  admiration for Tavernier’s honesty, frustration at the message it sent, and concern that his words had deepened the sense of vulnerability surrounding the team.

Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd offered a more blunt assessment. “Honesty is fine,” he said, “but sometimes players say things that make situations look worse than they are. After taking the lead in Europe, the last thing fans want to hear is that belief disappears.”

For many supporters, the frustration isn’t just about the draw it’s about the pattern. Rangers score first, lose control, and end up clinging to a result. And now, according to Tavernier, confidence is playing a defining role in that pattern.

Rangers didn’t lose in Portugal. They showed moments of quality. They showed fight. But the biggest headline from the night didn’t come from the pitch it came from their captain’s mouth. And for large sections of the support, it has left the situation feeling, in

their words, “so, so much worse.”