Inside Rangers Mission Impossible: Dislodging James Tavernier - Matt Polster interview

The American, who is now turning out for MLS side New England Revolution, joined the Light Blues from Chicago Fire in January 2019 following a successful trial. He would go on to make 10 appearances for the club under the watchful eye of his childhood hero Steven Gerrard. And it was his close relationship with Gerrard that engineered the move across the pond in the first place.

The 29-year-old told the Rangers Review: “The first time I met him was when he was at LA and I was with the international team. He was training with Galaxy and I was training with the national team at our January camp.

“He was my idol growing up and we got to have a small conversation. He watched one of our games and thought I played really well in the match and from there we just kept in contact.

“When I noticed he was making the move to Rangers as the manager, I went to my representation and they just connected through there and tried to make things work out.”

Things did work out for Polster after impressing Gerrard and his coaching staff to earn a two-and-a-half year deal and it wasn’t long for him to understand the demands the former Rangers boss expected: “He demanded a high level every single training session,” he said. “Sometimes he was quiet and he would let the staff take the session but for the most part, you could tell that when things needed to be said, he was stern when those moments needed to happen. He managed the club really well and he got 55 so you can’t really complain.”

For Polster, the intense pressure to succeed in Govan took a while to adjust to. It's a very different kettle of fish to life in Major League Soccer where the league format gives way to a cup competition for the title.

 “The difference between the MLS and a club like Rangers is the expectation to win every game,” he said.

“The club is trying to win everything every single year. They’re trying to do well in Europe but also trying to win everything domestically.

“It’s just a different mentality in the MLS. The goal is to get to the playoffs and hopefully from there you can win your three or four games and win an MLS Cup. It’s a different mentality and it’s a change for any player to go into that kind of environment and do well.

“When I first got there, Lee Wallace probably helped me settle in the most as well as Scott Arfield and Andy Halliday. Scott is crazy but he’s a great guy and a great person to have within any club so I can only speak highly of him.”

The unfortunate issue for Polster was the fact he was competing for a starting spot with club captain, James Tavernier. It would see his first-team opportunities limited but working in close proximity with the 30-year-old was a real eye-opener.

He said: “I think any player that wants to compete, play and help the team. You’re always going to go into the manager’s office to ask what you can do differently and how things can change. Of course I wanted to be playing more and wanted to be a part of the team more. I also knew it was tough to go up against the club captain at right-back.

“His level just doesn’t drop. He keeps the level high and maintains it, he’s consistently putting out performances that make you understand why he’s the captain of the club and he holds everybody else to that standard.

“When the club captain can play at that level every single match, he doesn’t even miss any, it just makes the other guys work that much harder.

“He’s incredible. He’s a great leader and he’s a great person to be around. I got on with him really well.

“Even in midfield, you had the likes of Ryan Jack, Steven Davis, Scott Arfield, Joe Aribo, the list goes on and on. It was difficult to break in but for the moments I felt like I had - I tried everything I could to sway the manager. But that’s part of the sport and there’s nothing I can do except give 100 percent for the club.”

Of the matches Polster did feature, they remain cherished memories. He’d make his Rangers debut in the 3-1 win over Hearts at Tynecastle in April 2019.

He recalled: “Stepping onto the field and being a part of the club is the main thing I remember. My wife was in the stands so it was special for both of us. To make that debut was a special moment for myself and my family. It was a great time and obviously, we won the match as well so it was a perfect day.

“Playing at Ibrox was probably most special because you’re playing in front of 50,000 that just love the club. They want to see you do well because they want the team to do well so it’s a special moment. To even have those opportunities and to have that chance, I wouldn’t change anything. It was definitely special and it’s something I get to enjoy for the rest of my life.”

Polster’s stay at Ibrox would come to an end in the summer of 2020 but like many who pull on the famous blue jersey, his departure was tinged with regret. 

“It was more of a mature decision,” he said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t really want to move but from speaking to my agent and with my age and timeframe, I wanted to play more. I think I moved when I was 26 so for me as a 26-year-old, you want to play as much as you can. I knew I wasn’t going to get those minutes at Rangers, unfortunately.

“Tav is consistently playing at a high level and the midfield was pretty much jammed up with incredible talent so I thought the best move was to come back to the MLS. I’m not disappointed with it. It’s my second year here and we won the Supporters Shield, we have a really good team and I’ve enjoyed it so far.

“We’ve had a much slower start this year than last year but we have a really good group of players. Things haven’t really gone our way but in the MLS anything’s possible. You win a couple of games and you’re back in the playoffs. For us, it’s getting to the top six in our conference and then trying to push on from there. The goal every year is to make the playoffs and then hopefully win an MLS Cup.”

Life for Polster has been pretty hectic in the last 12 months after becoming a father for the first time but he and his Rangers-mad wife Brittany are desperate to return to Ibrox to watch the team in action:

“My wife would love to go back, she’s been begging to find a chance to go back to Glasgow, she loved it there," he laughed. “I don’t think she realised the level of support the club had. When she finally got there and realised what I was talking about it and what this club was, she was like, ‘Whoa! It’s incredible!’

“I think she took that on really well and she wanted to be a part of it in her own way and be amongst the fans and enjoy those moments and see the support and level of love of the club it has.

“People from Scotland are extremely nice. We never had any issues, everybody was really kind and that’s all you can really ask for, especially if you go away from home. All the fans were lovely.

“We have a little one now so it makes things a little more complicated but we definitely would like to get back and see a few games. We watched the entire Europa League run last season. We enjoyed the entire journey as I’m sure all the fans did as well. I don’t know how things are going to work out but we’ll figure out a way of getting back.”