Of course, one swallow is not a summer’s make, but there is a reason to believe that Danny Rohl, the new Rangers’ head coach, has sown the first blue shoots of recovery.
With Sunday’s home win over Kilmarnock, no one at Ibrox will be letting their luck get in the way.
- last 12 hours
A victory is a victory.
Let’s not undervalue the significance of the three points that the German newcomer has just added. Rangers were unable to capture the Premiership at Ibrox on four previous attempts under interim manager Steven Smith and Russell Martin.
Govan was flooded with players from Dundee, Celtic, Hearts, and Dundee United. Rohl delivered the victory the fans demanded and desired at the first time in the league, and under no preconditions as a result of Brann’s performance in Bergen’s Europa League loss on Thursday.
Rohl shuffles as the circumstances change.
The German, 36, is only his second season as a head coach in his own right, and he makes the right calls when necessary.
Youssef Chermiti, Nasser Djiga, Joe Rothwell, and Oliver Antman were dropped after Brann’s 3-0 battering. Rangers chose to start with two wide attackers and two double strikers instead of a single frontman.
Which does not mean there was no width. When the home side were in quick possession, Rohl pushed Thelo Aasgard and Djeidi Gassama down the flanks, giving the formation of a 4-2-4 shape at times. With James Tavernier, John Souttar, and Derek Cornelius serving as the central three, along with Jayden Meghoma and Gassama as the attacking wing-backs, this could also become a back five.
Everything came more quickly.
Most of Rangers’ football had been a little labored and predictable up until Sunday. The Rohl regime’s first domestic showdown featured more vigor and speed.
With the overloads in the wide areas, Killie found themselves penned in and forced to defend for a significant portion of the match because the entire team moved up the pitch more quickly, the passing was quicker, and the passing was more effective.
The players certainly reacted with the newfound energy from the Ibrox crowd. “Danny, Danny Rohl” sounded like Daddy Cool from 1970s disco favorites Boney M for the majority of the second half.
Important goals from important players
There were a number of “firsts,” all of which made up something significant: Rangers’ first victory of the Rohl era, with them finally removing the stigma of being the only team in the Scottish Premiership to not win in front of their own supporters.
A strong at the back and very dangerous up at the other end of the park for new defender Derek Cornelius.
Brazilian striker Danilo, who has largely disappeared as a result of the arrivals of fellow forwards Chermiti, Miovski, Antman, Gassama, and Mikey Moore, has scored his first Premiership goal since January’s derby win over Celtic. His ability to score a nicely angled header from Meghoma’s excellent delivery, which he took, suggests that his eye for goal hasn’t deserted him as he advocates for greater inclusion in the upcoming weeks and months.
However, Chermiti’s was unquestionably the most important goal. He looked largely lost in a Rangers jersey up until Sunday, and an $8 million price tag makes it heavy to carry when you’re performing. The Portuguese international’s powerful strike opened up the pressure on Kilmarnock’s own young players and made him appear much more dangerous than the international. Since May 2023, he had scored his first senior goal. His manager thinks that he has talent.
After the game, Rohl told BBC Scotland, “That’s a big goal for him.”
He had a reputation and cost a lot of money when he arrived. He demands of himself as well. We will gradually make improvements to him. We saw that in the goal today, and he has something special.
Rangers anticipating a fantastic week
If the Ibrox side can live up to this newfound luster, which Rohl and his team seem to have only had a few training sessions, they can expect to approach a potentially season-defining week with more optimism.
On Wednesday night, they take on third-placed Hibs at Easter Road. They would advance over David Gray’s side if they won away. Then there’s Celtic, who will face them in the second Premier Sports Cup semi-final on Sunday at Hampden.
One game away from winning his first trophy would be if Rohl could start winning with three victories in a row. At the national stadium in December, the other half of the large Glasgow duo will square off against Motherwell or St Mirren. The most recent addition to Scottish football is up for the challenge.
Every outcome is important when you take control, says Rohl, with a big smile on your face when you see the schedule and are aware of the pressure being put on.
“We now have a big, big game in store for Wednesday,” the manager said. We’ll try to perform well in the next game, improve in the next step, and then move on to the next one.
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- Scottish Premiership
- Rangers
- Scottish Football
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