Rangers Manager Danny Rohl Shifts Pressure Onto Hearts Ahead of Crucial Premiership Showdown
Rangers boss Danny Rohl has boldly claimed that the pressure is firmly on Hearts as the two sides prepare for a top-of-the-table clash at Ibrox on Sunday. This assertion comes despite Rangers currently sitting five points behind the Premiership leaders, with Celtic also lurking just one point behind and holding a game in hand over both rivals.
Late Motherwell Draw Sparks Title Race Tension
Rohl's comments follow a dramatic midweek draw with Motherwell, where Rangers conceded a late goal, dropping two vital points. The result has intensified the title race, with Rangers' unbeaten domestic run now extended to 12 games, yet fans expressed frustration over team selection and tactics, especially after Motherwell were reduced to 10 men.
Rohl, who took over from Russell Martin last October when Rangers trailed Hearts by a seemingly insurmountable 13 points, has guided his team to within striking distance. When asked if Sunday's match is a must-win, Rohl acknowledged the importance but emphasised the shared pressure.
"Yeah, generally it's about consistency, to take three points again and again and again, and in the last couple of weeks we did really well at this," Rohl said. "That's the reason why we closed the gap. It's a big game to take the three points, but I think it's also the same for Hearts."
Rohl Highlights Psychological Edge in Title Pursuit
The German manager pointed out that Hearts, who once held a commanding lead, may now feel the heat as Rangers have narrowed the deficit. "If you are 13 points ahead of a club and you drop maybe to two points, maybe there's also pressure on them," Rohl stated. "This is for both teams, both teams know what it's about in this game. I think both teams have pressure on this game. If we can close to two points, it would be massive."
Rohl also stressed the ongoing nature of the title race, noting, "Every game now is crucial. All the teams now know every result influences a lot, but every result is also not a final decision. This is also very important to understand."
Manager Responds to Fan Criticism After Award Win
Despite being named Premiership Manager of the Month for January, Rohl faced criticism from supporters after the Motherwell draw, marking perhaps the first significant backlash during his tenure. Reflecting on the fickle nature of football, Rohl said, "Twenty-four hours before the game you get an award for the best manager of the month, 24 hours later you're not good enough. This is football."
He added, "In football sometimes it's emotional. In this match day, we concede late, the two other clubs (Celtic and Hearts in their respective midweek games) scored late—it could be a completely different story today and you ask me different questions. But this is football. I try to be balanced after wins but also after draws. We're not talking about defeats at the moment."
Rohl took responsibility for the team's performance, explaining, "As a manager you always take the responsibility. I make my decision before the game, there was an idea behind it. And then after, the decision-making is influenced by the result. If you draw, then you have to ask maybe such critical questions, but this is normal."
Looking Ahead to the Ibrox Challenge
Looking forward to the Hearts clash, Rohl acknowledged the strength of the opposition, recalling Hearts' victory in Glasgow back in September, where Lawrence Shankland made the difference. "We have had a good run at home, a lot of good results, a lot of clean sheets," Rohl noted. "But we face a strong side, we have a different challenge to Wednesday. We also have to understand this game, and I want to pick the best team for this game."
With the title race heating up, Sunday's match promises to be a pivotal moment in the Scottish Premiership season, as Rangers aim to close the gap and heap pressure on the league leaders.
