‘Lot of quality’: Cedric Itten raves about ‘very good’ Rangers duo, Ally McCoist loves them too

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Glasgow Rangers newcomer Cedric Itten has waxed lyrical about Ibrox duo James Tavernier and Borna Barisic, in conversation with the Glasgow Times.

Itten is one of two attacking options brought to Rangers by Steven Gerrard this summer, the Swiss joining the Ibrox outfit earlier this month alongside Kemar Roofe.

The 23-year-old, a reported £2.7million signing, enjoyed a superb 2019-20 season for St Gallen, claiming 19 goals and six assists from 34 league appearances.

Itten has made four Scottish Premiership appearances so far, his first three off the bench before playing the full 90 minutes in the win over Kilmarnock last time out.

Although he is yet to score, he has shown exciting glimpses of what he’s set to bring to the Rangers team as part of Gerrard’s new-look front line.

Speaking to the Glasgow Times, Itten says he’s settling in well and is looking forward to getting on the end of crosses from Tavernier and Barisic.

“It has been very nice,” said the 6ft 2in sharpshooter. “I have had a warm welcome and everyone has helped me to have a good start.

“It is very exciting as Rangers is such a huge club with a lot of history and a lot of glory, so I am happy to be a part of it. This is the next step for me to play in a different country. It is a step for me to progress and get better, so for me it is the perfect step.

“We play offensive football here with a lot of crosses and that is what I like. We have very good players like James Tavernier and Borna Barisic with a lot of quality and a lot of good crosses. I am looking forward to hopefully getting on the end of the them.”

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Barisic struggled in his first season at Rangers and was even touted by some quarters to be moved on last summer, but he has now made that left-hand side in Gerrard’s team his own.

He clocked up 39 appearances for the Ibrox side last term, scoring two goals and, crucially, contributing a huge 14 assists, including eight in the Scottish Premiership.

Tavernier was also impressive in terms of goalscoring contributions, weighing in with 15 assists and three goals from 45 matches in all competitions.

Speaking to the Glasgow Times in July, Ally McCoist deemed them “absolutely excellent going forward”, though he did suspect that Gerrard “probably had a word with them regarding defensive duties as well”.

With Rangers yet to concede in the Premiership this season, things look a lot more positive on that front, and with Itten able to use his height to get on the end of Barisic and Tavernier’s crosses, the future bodes well for the Ibrox side.