Chris Sutton has blasted James Tavernier over his apology to the Rangers fans after the hammering by Liverpool branding his words 'embarrassing' and 'scandalous'.
The Light Blues skipper was unable to face the media at full-time at Ibrox after the 7-1 thrashing after being requested to take part in a random drugs test in the wake of the result. Scott Arfield had fired the home side in front to send Ibrox wild but the joy was short-lived with the Reds upping the ante including a six minute hat-trick from sub Mo Salah.
However, the Rangers captain did share words via the club website as he apologised over the performance and result but insisted the players didn't throw in the towel in Govan. The result leaves Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men sitting rock bottom of the section with 0 points from four matches with a goals against total of 16.
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The Celtic hero also hit out over the full-back's description of the Champions League as just a 'bonus' for the players and that the focus is on the Premiership and domestic cups.
Sutton told BT Sport's Scottish Football Extra: "I tell you what, James Tavernier's comments and apology? That worries me.
"First of all, does he need to apologise?
"Okay, James Tavernier has been a brilliant servant to Rangers and an excellent player but to come out and say that the Champions League is just a 'bonus' for the players and the club and that their focus is on the domestic league and cups, come on.
"That is the wrong message, that is embarrassing.
"And you've got a manager on the other side of the city who is trying to change the mindset and culture of Scottish football and say 'do you know what, we can compete in the Champions League, we have to believe it', and then you've got James Tavernier, the Rangers captain, saying 'hang on a minute, our main focus is the league and cups'? What message does that send out to the Rangers supporters?
"Over the last ten years, okay Rangers stopped the ten, but they got to the Europa League final, the Rangers players believed then.
"So what are Rangers going to do given James Tavernier's comments for the last couple of games? Play the kids against Napoli? It's scandalous.
"That is the WRONG message and Scottish football cannot think like that."
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