Rangers

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Danny Rohl says Rangers owe their supporters a derby win on Sunday but are not motivated by the chance to derail Celtic's title bid.

The third-place Ibrox side are set for another trophyless season after losing 2-1 at leaders Hearts on Monday night to languish seven points off the top with just three games remaining.

But they can still have a big say in the race as they visit rivals Celtic, who are three points behind Hearts.

"I think it's a special game for us," said head coach Rohl.

"The message to my players is we have a big responsibility in general for the last three games.

"I think nobody needs extra motivation to go into this game. We want to make our supporters and fans proud and that means we have to deliver.

"I think for this game you don't need motivation. For us it's about winning games and I think it's about more than just [trying to] stop someone else winning a title.

"For us it's about making our supporters proud and that means delivering a good result and hopefully three points."

Rohl has faced intense criticism from fans in the wake of back-to-back defeats that have all but ended Rangers' title bid.

The 37-year-old German, who has also been linked with a return to manage Wolfsburg in his homeland, is adamant he is staying at Ibrox and that he retains the owners' backing after talks this week.

On his conversations with the board, Rohl said: "Fully, fully committed. I feel it every day, the support.

"I feel the conversations we had. We spoke so much about what we want to change for the summer. I feel that I'm in the right place with the right people with a lot of motivation, positive energy to bring this club, not just to a one-hit wonder, back to to a consistent club who can win titles in a row.

"This is also important to understand. A one-hit wonder for us, it's nice, but what we are looking for is that you consistently play for the title. And this is my job, this is our job, and this is why I'm looking forward."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Danny Rohl has been speaking to the media before Rangers visit rivals Celtic in the Premiership on Sunday.

Here are the key points:

• The title now seems beyond Rangers, who lie seven points behind leaders Hearts with three games to go, leading to questions over Rohl's future - but the German is "100% convinced" he will still be at the club next season.

• He adds: "We want the titles and for this, we have to change things. A process without a winning of titles is not enough for our club and in this direction we move forward. I'm really motivated and really ambitious for the new season."

• When asked if he feels he has the backing of Rangers' owners he says: "Fully, fully committed. I feel it every day, the support. We spoke so much about what we want to change for the summer and I feel that I'm in the right place with the right people, with a lot of motivation, positive energy to bring this club, not just to a one-hit wonder, back to consistently a club who can win titles in a row."

• On links to a return to manage in Germany he adds: "There's a lot of rumours. I think I look back last year with how many clubs I was linked. I could get maybe 20 jobs there in the newspaper but generally, my full focus is on Rangers.

• On the damaging post-split losses to Motherwell and Hearts he says: "We knew that these two defeats hurts really after maybe a hopeless season in October where nobody thought we can win something and then you come so close. I think everyone was totally convinced we have a big, big chance [of winning the league]. This is also a part now why the disappointment is so hard and so tough to accept."

• Rohl was clear the motivation to potentially stop Celtic's title challenge is not in Rangers' minds and says: "For this game you don't need motivation."

• On criticism that he and his squad failed to adapt to Hearts' change in tactics after half-time in the 2-1 loss at Tynecastle, the German suggests his players weren't active enough: "If you don't move an opponent who is man-marking, you will still not find the right solutions. I think this is a part what we have to do better to understand. If we stop to move, we can change four shapes. It will not influence the outcome."

• He responded to questions about a lack of Scottish players against Hearts by saying: "I think for me not about Scottish players or not. I think it's about to have the right players."

Sunday marks Martin O'Neill's first Old Firm derby at Celtic Park since a 2-0 defeat to Rangers in February 2005.

He can ill afford anything other than victory this time as Celtic, with just three games left and a three-point deficit, pursue long-time leaders Hearts, who visit Motherwell on Saturday night.

Rangers travel across the city with their title hopes hanging by a thread after a damaging defeat at Tynecastle on Monday. Even if they can't take the crown themselves, the Ibrox side would revel in dealing a fatal blow to their fierce rivals' glory bid.

So there's plenty at stake as the Old Firm collide for the final time this season. In the three previous league meetings, Celtic had a different manager at the helm in each, while Russell Martin managed one derby for Rangers before being jettisoned.

Watch below for a recap of what has happened so far in this season's Premiership Old Firm showdowns.

The first meeting of the sides this season was dreadfully dull, with many suggesting it was one of the lowest-quality Old Firm games ever.

Home defender John Souttar did have the ball in the net in the first half - but it was ruled out for offside as then coaches Martin and Brendan Rodgers settled for a point.

In what was Wilfried Nancy's final game in charge of Celtic, Rangers drew level with Celtic in second place in the Premiership as Youssef Chermiti's second-half double and Mikey Moore's clincher gave Danny Rohl's side an incredible comeback win.

Nancy's men were 1-0 up at the interval through Yang Hyun-Jun's thumping finish but failed to make their dominance count as Rangers roared back, ending Nancy's eight-game tenure in 45 ruthless minutes.

In March at Ibrox it was Celtic's turn to mount a stirring comeback, rallying from two down to rescue a dramatic point thanks to Reo Hatate's injury-time equaliser.

Chermiti's first-half double - including a world-class overhead kick - put Rangers in the driving seat, only for O'Neill's men to hit back through Kieran Tierney and substitute Hatate.

The result left Hearts six points clear at the top - what will be the title race state of play when the dust settles on this weekend?

Image source, PA Media

Rangers have been alerted to Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Bobby Clark, with a cut-price deal potentially available for the 21-year-old who has been on loan at Derby County. (TeamTalk), external

Newly-promoted Coventry City are among several English clubs pursuing a deal for Leon King, the 22-year-old defender about to leave Rangers as a free agent. (TeamTalk), external

Rangers head of academy James Fowler is set to move to Newcastle, where he will manage scouting operations. (Mail+), external

Friday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

Just over six months after he was appointed at Ibrox, is Danny Rohl already on the proverbial shoogly peg?

The German revived Rangers and led them back into the title race after the calamitous tenure of Russell Martin, but his team have collapsed at the business end of the season.

Losses in both post-split games so far - at home to Motherwell and away to leaders Hearts - have effectively consigned Rangers to a second trophyless season on the bounce and turned up the heat on Rohl.

While some supporters will remain fully behind the 37-year-old, he may fall victim to the "dripping tap of negativity" that comes with life as an Old Firm manager.

"I think there's a stick or twist scenario for Rangers if this season pans out the way it's beginning to look at the moment," said Stephen McGowan, football writer with The Herald, on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Ultimately, the Rangers manager is judged by how many trophies he wins and on that score, it looks like Danny Rohl is going to fall short.

"In a rational football environment, probably he wouldn't come under anything like this amount of pressure, but this is not a rational environment, it's Glasgow.

"He did do exceptionally well to get him back in the race, but there are big questions over Danny Rohl now, these are dangerous times for him."

Rangers led 1-0 at Tynecastle on Monday night but one of the main talking points post-match was Rohl's inability to cope with Derek McInnes' tactical tweaks.

McGowan added: "I think there have been questions from supporters over his starting XI, over his ability to change things when tactics start to go against him.

"So, regardless of whether he deserves it or not, I think whenever a manager loses the faith in the support of supporters, at clubs like Celtic and Rangers, it's really hard to turn off the negative dripping tap, and I think that's where Danny Rohl is now."

Former Hearts manager Robbie Neilson reckons Rohl will remain in situ until the start of next season, but he will be immediately under fire should he fail to start fast.

"I think they've got to give him time and a bit of support, and also better recruitment over the course of the summer," Neilson said.

"I would be very surprised if he's not there come the start of the season, how long he gets will be dictated by the results at start of the season."

• Celtic are without a win in six league meetings with Rangers (D3 L3), last going longer without a victory in the derby from September 1995 to November 1997 (10).

• Rangers have won their past two league visits to Celtic, as many as their previous 19 beforehand (W2 D4 L13). The Ibrox side last won three successive league trips to their Old Firm rivals in November 1992 under Walter Smith.

• Celtic have only won the final Old Firm derby of a Scottish Premiership season (including curtailed 2019-20 campaign) in one of the past seven campaigns (D2 L4), a 2-1 victory in 2023-24.

• Celtic have won their past four league games; their longest Premiership winning run this season is five matches, which came during Martin O'Neill's first spell in charge from October to December.

• Rangers have lost their past two league games, as many as their previous 39 beforehand (W21 D16 L2), but haven't lost three in a row since October 2000 under Dick Advocaat.

• After overseeing a 3-1 victory at Celtic Park in January, Danny Rohl could become only the second manager to win his first two away league games against Celtic in charge of Rangers, after Walter Smith (first three from 1991 to 1992).

• Daizen Maeda has scored three goals in Celtic's past two league games, as many as his previous 20 Premiership appearances beforehand. Maeda is looking to score in three successive appearances in the competition for the first time since March 2025 (run of five), while he has two goals in his past three league games against Rangers at Celtic Park.

• Youssef Chermiti has scored four in two league appearances against Celtic this season, the most by a Rangers player in a single league campaign since Mark Walters in 1988-89 (also four). No player has ever scored five against their Old Firm rivals in one league season.

Northern Ireland winger Ross McCausland will return to Rangers this summer after the on-loan 22-year-old asked Aris Limassol to remove their option to buy, with the Cypriot title hopefuls having fallen to a disappointing sixth in the table. (Daily Record), external

Oxford United have confirmed that 30-year-old centre-half Ben Davies has returned to Rangers at the end of his loan and their relegation to League One. (The Herald), external

Ayr United have offered a permanent contract to Leon King following the 22-year-old centre-half's loan from Rangers. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

And so another Rangers season comes to a premature end following another failure to put together a 90-minute performance.

Having put in a couple of pretty abject first-half displays in their games against Falkirk and Motherwell, it was imperative they started better against Hearts. And to be fair, they did.

In fact after a fairly even opening to the game, they took control after getting themselves in front and were knocking the ball about nicely, with Hearts unable to get close to them.

I said in commentary they were doing to Hearts what Motherwell had done to them in that first period.

It was impressive to watch and with Hearts unable to get possession, it looked as though Danny Rohl's side were going to haul themselves right back into the thick of the title race, just a point behind their opponents and Celtic.

But of course that is not what transpired. Derek McInnes's tactical tweaks at half-time countered Rangers' dominance of midfield and as soon as Hearts got the early second-half equaliser, the momentum shifted and Rangers' title hopes were ended.

The fall-out from that, from a Rangers perspective, has been to apportion blame for yet another hugely disappointing season. Fingers have been pointed at Danny Rohl, at James Tavernier, at Andreas Skov Olsen among others.

Rohl deserves some praise. Firstly for having turned Rangers' fortunes around and got them back involved to the extent that they became many people's favourites to win the league. But also, on the night, his tactics at the outset were spot on.

However, his and his players' inability to adapt once Hearts changed their own shape is unacceptable and ultimately, just as he was out-thought by Jens Berthel Askou the week before, he was outdone by Derek McInnes.

Questions are now being asked about his future as Rangers manager. I'll leave that for another week but he and his players have to show a response by taking something off Celtic on Sunday.

I think Tavernier has been unfairly criticised on this occasion, but as the captain of a side that has failed to deliver on another big occasion he will have to accept considerable responsibility.

As for Skov Olsen, he has been a major let-down since arriving to such great fanfare and it seems unthinkable that Rangers would now try to make his move a permanent one.

But it is as a collective that Rangers have failed in the end and there will have to be another period of soul-searching within Ibrox as the owners plot a way forward.

All that remains for this season is to try to overhaul Celtic in second, though that should offer only minimal solace.

Image source, SNS

Kris Boyd is urging Rangers to put their title frustrations aside and focus on finishing second in the league in order to secure a Champions League qualifying place.

A runners-up finish in this season's Scottish Premiership secures a place in the second qualifying round of the Uefa tournament and would give Rangers another crack at reaching Europe's premier club competetion.

Before the split Danny Rohl's side were just a point behind Hearts, but back-to-back defeats at home to Motherwell and away to the league leaders leave the Glasgow club seven points adrift with nine to play for.

While Rangers would need a lot to fall in their favour to have any hope of salvaging the title, they could catch Glasgow rivals Celtic in second place.

"I think there'll be more questions asked if Rangers don't get that second place," Boyd told Sky Sports.

"When you look at FFP (Financial Fair Play) and Rangers were on the threshold of that last season, you're then trying to rebuild another team.

"There's already players announced that they're going to be leaving. They've spent a lot of money already, but to allow Rangers to spend the money they'll need to spend to get back up there challenging next year, you're going to need every advantage you can get, and that will be that Champions League qualifier.

"So Rangers need to approach Celtic Park on Sunday as a game they must win. It's bad enough finishing second up here, but to finish third would be a huge, huge blow for Rangers."

Raith Rovers plan talks with Rangers as they hope to retain 20-year-old midfielder Paul Nsio, who has been on loan to the Scottish Championship club. (The Scotsman), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

The Rangers support have seen this film too often for their own liking, and now they are all repeating the same questions.

Is the manager up to it? Where are our leaders? Why do our players not have the minerals? The list goes on.

But this time feels different, and perhaps worse.

Rangers wilting in a title race with Celtic is one thing, but wilting in a title race with those same city rivals and a non-Old Firm club that has not won the top flight in 66 years - and with a fraction of their budget - is quite another.

Ibrox great Ally McCoist has questioned the team's mental strength, their ability to put together a 90-minute performance, and the lack of a Scottish core in the squad.

Head coach Danny Rohl has bristled at the mindset doubts, but Rangers' back-to-back league defeats at the start of their post-split schedule - after suffering just two Premiership losses all season beforehand - perhaps suggest otherwise.

And that is before considering Rohl's record against top-six sides this season. In 14 matches under Rohl against teams from the top half, Rangers have won just six times.

Throw in the Scottish Cup and League Cup exits to Celtic and that becomes six victories in 16 games in all competitions.

Sub-par player recruitment, with Rangers reportedly spending up to £40m across the past two windows, has also drawn serious criticism.

Lawrence Shankland smashing in the winner on Monday to all but eliminate Rangers from the title race was symbolic of that.

The Scotland striker was a player the Ibrox club supposedly showed no interest in when he was available as a free agent last summer, before re-signing with Hearts.

His unerring finish was his 18th goal of the season. By contrast, Rangers' strikers on the night - Youssef Chermiti (12), Bojan Miovski (13) and Ryan Naderi (three) - have 28 goals between them and cost a combined total of around £15m.

Rangers' season is now likely to peter out, even with an Old Firm derby still to come on Sunday - which has so much riding on it for their Glasgow rivals. The club can then expect the same familiar questions throughout the summer.

Image source, SNS

Bojan Miovski says Rangers allowed their title hopes slip away too easily in their 2-1 defeat at Hearts on Monday.

Danny Rohl's side took the lead through Dujon Sterling's deflected strike, before Hearts turned it around thanks to second-half goals from Stephen Kingsley and Lawrence Shankland.

It leaves the Ibrox outfit seven points behind leaders Hearts with three matches of the Scottish Premiership season remaining.

"We believed, of course we believed – everyone in the dressing-room believed we could do it," said striker Miovski, who came on as a substitute in Gorgie as Rohl desperately tried to find an equaliser.

"But unfortunately the second half was disappointing. If you fight for the league, you can't play like we did in the second half.

"We started really good in the first half and should have killed the game in that half.

"We gave them a chance in the second half. We lost concentration and gave them an easy goal, in my opinion.

"We brought them into the game, we shouldn't do that. I don't know exactly what went wrong. We need to analyse and improve."

Rangers are now effectively battling to finish second ahead of Celtic and secure a place in the Champions League qualifiers.

The sides meet at Celtic Park on Sunday with Rangers four points behind their city rivals.

"We will give everything until the end and try to collect as many points as we can," Miovski said.

"We need to finish this season strongly before thinking of next season."

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

Nico Raskin had suggested that Tynecastle on Monday was "do or die" for Rangers.

And as sure as Friday follows Thursday, Rangers were found wanting when it came down to the crunch.

It's like Groundhog Day. New players, new manager, same failures over and over again.

We were fine in the first half. The middle three were working well and at times we had Hearts in panic stations. But instead of building on the lead, we played keep-ball as if the job was done.

No-one showed the mentality to say, 'right, let's go and finish this off.' And, of course, we just didn't start the second half and paid the price.

The most annoying part of the second half was the complete lack of reaction after we went behind - it was a meek surrender.

Clearly, we are out of the title race. This is exactly why I remained hesitant to suggest we were properly involved until after the split.

Two games in and we're gone.

We don't have enough players in the squad for whom winning is everything. It's nice to do, but it's not the be-all and end-all.

Danny Rohl had to pick up a mess and got us into the title race where it was in our hands with five games to go.

Now, with three left, we're going to finish third. What's the point?

I fully expect us to fail on Sunday after Monday's meek second-half display, and Rohl's future is now a very sticky one for the owners.

We asked for your views after Rangers' Scottish Premiership title bid all but ended in defeat at Hearts.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Ron: It has happened again. Another year of failure. The club's recruitment department just keeps on failing. Each season we have another poor defence and forward line. We can't keep spending millions of pounds every season with so little success. For years this Rangers team has failed to play for 90 minutes.

Robert: Once again, when the pressure is on, the Rangers team goes missing. Too many times in recent seasons this has happened. We can't win when it really counts. We need to bring in a core of Scottish players. To think we could have signed Lawrence Shankland, who was available for nothing last summer. Yet another season of disappointment.

Ronnie: I'm not shouting for the manager to go, unlike many other Rangers fans. The team he put out utterly dominated Hearts for 45 minutes, but once again these Rangers players are incapable of keeping it going for 90 minutes. To surrender the title in this manner is unforgivable. I will take no comfort should we beat Celtic, but I do think Hearts deserve to win the title. It's another summer rebuild for Rangers. How often have we said that?

Alan: Rangers have real problems all over the field, but mentality is the biggest issue. Luke Graham and John Souttar should replace the lethargic Nasser Djiga and Emmanuel Fernandez. Why Bojan Movski, the most natural striker at the club, sits on the bench while Danny Rohl persists with Youssef Chermiti and Ryan Naderi is beyond me. Finally, what Findlay Curtis is doing out on loan demonstrates the blind folly of the manager and his backroom staff. Quite depressing for all our fans!

Derek: Yet again, another glorious failure! £40m fluttering down Gorgie Road. Team selection was bizarre again - Andreas Skov Olsen hasn't been in the frame for weeks yet starts the game. This team are serial losers. Same old story from Rohl.

Stuart: Another season, another bottle job from Rangers. As fans we've been subjected to a lot since 2012, but this is the lowest I've felt in a long time. I don't recognise the club anymore - very few do. I don't see how we ever get back to where we belong.