Rangers Boss Rohl Confident After Commanding Victory Over Dundee
Rangers manager Danny Rohl has openly discussed his team's Scottish Premiership title aspirations following what he described as a "statement" 3-0 victory against Dundee at Ibrox. The comprehensive win, secured through goals from captain James Tavernier and substitutes Danilo and Djeidi Gassama, marked the Glasgow side's eighth consecutive triumph across all competitions.
Closing the Gap at the Top
The result proved particularly significant as it coincided with league leaders Hearts being held to a 2-2 draw by Celtic at Tynecastle. This combination of events allowed Rangers to leapfrog their Old Firm rivals into second place, narrowing the deficit to Hearts to just four points as the championship contest intensifies.
Rohl expressed considerable satisfaction with the performance and its implications. "Yeah, it feels great, but hopefully the feeling will be better and better during the second half of the season because there is still a long way to go. We know this," the German tactician stated. "I know at Rangers, the demand is high to get a lot of wins but for me, it's also eight wins in a row. It's a statement, especially from the point we were at."
Analysing the Performance and Mindset
While pleased with the outcome, Rohl provided a nuanced analysis of the match, acknowledging initial difficulties in breaking down a well-organised Dundee side. "In the first half, we tried but in some moments we had too many players behind the ball instead of in the right areas," he explained, noting this was addressed during the interval. "Then you come out fantastic, make the goal, then you have two or three good moments so you can score for 2-0 or 3-0."
Beyond the tactical execution, Rohl emphasised the positive mentality within his squad as a key factor in their sustained success. "I think this is the good part, when I look to my group inside the dressing room still after 3-0, that we think we want to do more and better," he revealed. "We are not lazy now and thinking, 'everything goes well'. No, they are still hungry."
He outlined his philosophy for the remaining fixtures: "15 games to go, 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 front foot - then we have a lot of fun."
Dundee's Setback and Transfer Plans
For Dundee, managed by former Rangers defender Steven Pressley, the defeat was a disappointing setback. Pressley confirmed his intention to strengthen the squad before the closure of the transfer window, a move necessitated by significant injury concerns.
"I think that we probably need to add another couple of new faces to the team," Pressley admitted. "Obviously, we've had some not-so-good news around the injury front with the likes of Clark Robertson, who could be out for up to six weeks, and Billy Koumetio, who could be out for anything from eight weeks to 12 weeks. Two huge players for ourselves. So that's a real blow."
The result solidifies Rangers' position as serious contenders, injecting fresh momentum into the Premiership title race as the season enters its decisive phase.
