Rangers Manager Danny Rohl Embraces 'Hunter' Mentality in Title Pursuit
Rangers boss Danny Rohl has declared that his players are thoroughly relishing their position as the 'hunters' in this season's gripping Scottish Premiership title race. Following a convincing 3-0 victory over Dundee at Ibrox, Rohl expressed confidence that it will not be long before his team erases the slender gap at the summit of the table.
Commanding Victory Extends Impressive Winning Streak
Second-half goals from captain James Tavernier, striker Danilo, and winger Djeidi Gassama secured maximum points for the Light Blues. This result extends their remarkable winning run across all competitions to eight consecutive matches. The triumph proved particularly timely, as league leaders Hearts were held to a draw by Celtic at Tynecastle.
These results have significant implications for the standings. Rangers have now moved to within just four points of Hearts at the top and have established a two-point cushion over Celtic in third place, with 15 fixtures still remaining in the campaign.
Rohl's Remarkable Turnaround and Squad Belief
Danny Rohl, who has overseen a stunning transformation since taking over from Russell Martin in October, firmly believes he possesses a squad with the requisite quality and mentality to sustain this challenge until the very end.
'We know, and I think this is the good part,' Rohl reflected after the match. 'When I look at my group inside the dressing room after a 3-0 win, I see that we want to do more and be better. We are not lazy now and think everything is going well. No, they are still hungry.'
He elaborated on the aggressive philosophy he is instilling: 'We want to be the hunter. We want to hunt on the pitch with our pressing, we want to hunt the teams around us, be on the front foot. Then we can have a lot of fun.'
While acknowledging the positive feeling of closing the gap, Rohl stressed the long road ahead: 'It feels great, but hopefully the feeling will get better and better during the second half of the season. This is still a long way to go. Eight wins in a row... it's a statement, especially from the point we were at.'
The Vital Connection with the Ibrox Faithful
A key factor in the renewed optimism around Ibrox has been the rekindled connection between the team and its supporters. Rohl was serenaded by the crowd during a post-match lap of appreciation, a moment he cherishes.
'We spoke before the game about the noises in the stadium,' he said. 'I know it is always our responsibility first to bring the game and the result. When we started together, the stands were... not so full. I look around now after a 2-0, a 3-0, and the stadium is full. I think this is exactly what my team deserves at the moment.'
He paid tribute to the fans, adding: 'A big respect to our supporters. I think they feel now what is possible. We try our best to be on the front foot every game, and then we go forward together.'
Tavernier's Milestone and New Signings Settle In
The match also saw a significant personal milestone. Captain James Tavernier broke the deadlock from the penalty spot, notching his 100th league goal for Rangers—a phenomenal achievement for a defender.
Rohl praised his skipper's leadership: 'Tav knows his role. It's important that he helps the group. He's doing a fantastic job. He's a leader, he's been at the club a long, long time, and he will help us to grow. We have a young group, but with that experience, it's great.'
January signings Andreas Skov Olsen and Tochi Chukwuani were handed their first starts, integrating into a side brimming with confidence.
Dundee's Frustration After Defeat
For Dundee manager Steven Pressley, there was evident disappointment. His team arrived in Glasgow having won four of their previous five matches but failed to trouble the Rangers defence sufficiently.
'At 1-0 down just touching 90 minutes, I was still disappointed because I think we're better than we showed today,' Pressley admitted. 'I thought we showed maturity in build-up, but we didn't create enough clear-cut opportunities. I genuinely came here thinking we could take something from the game.'
He remained optimistic about his team's development, concluding: 'There's still a lot of development within this group, and hopefully when we return in the future, you'll see an even better Dundee team.'
As the Premiership enters its decisive phase, Rangers, under Danny Rohl's vibrant leadership, have firmly positioned themselves as serious hunters in a thrilling three-way battle for the championship.
