Despite his team taking the lead with a first-half double from Youssef Chermiti, the German coach, Danny Rohl, felt disappointment rather than despair after the match ended in a 2-2 tie.
He rejected the notion that Rangers’ second half downfall indicated a lack of mental fortitude among his players to handle what is expected to be a challenging Scottish title race and dismissed inquiries regarding the shortcomings of individual players during his post-match press conference.
Match Overview and Key Moments
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Danny Rohl, whose squad is set to face Celtic at home once more in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup quarter-final this Sunday, firmly believes that his revamped team must simply replicate their first-half display throughout the entire match to fulfill their goals this season.
“I can’t agree with this mindset,” he remarked. “Anyone who has played football understands that every match has its own narrative. It’s crucial for us to maintain our level of play for the entire 90 minutes. We must achieve this.”
Coach’s Reaction to Tie
“Absolutely, securing victories is essential. Every team strives for wins. Today, we ended up with a draw. However, I believe that, particularly after the initial 50 minutes, everyone here will concur on how impressively Rangers performed.
“This should serve as the standard for how we need to perform increasingly. However, it lasts for 95 minutes. We weren’t able to maintain that level of play, and that’s an area we must enhance. We’ve already made progress in this regard and have demonstrated resilience in bouncing back previously.”
Youssef Chermiti of Rangers celebrated after netting his team’s opening goal against Celtic at Ibrox yesterday (Image: Jane Barlow)
Upcoming Challenge Against Celtic
Rohl remarked, “The difference is currently six points. However, I have reiterated this repeatedly. This will extend to the last match day. We will strive relentlessly for every point until the conclusion.”
“With nine matches remaining, there are numerous opportunities still ahead. I have complete faith in my players. We will strive to enhance our performance against them next week and will regroup. I believe this is crucial.
“Ultimately, I feel let down; we all feel let down. We showcased 50 minutes of exceptional football in every facet of the match. We were clearly the superior side with effective pressing and smooth transitions. We controlled the game, and they had no opportunities.”
Team Performance Analysis
“The match lasts for 95 minutes, not just 45 or 50. I realized at half-time that they would attempt something different, that they would return with renewed energy. You could sense the shift in momentum. In the end, they earned a penalty that brought the score to 2-2.”
Chermiti showcased his goal-scoring ability impressively and stood out as one of Rangers’ top players throughout the match. However, concerns were raised after the final whistle regarding the £9m forward’s inconsistency in less significant games. So far this season, he has scored nine goals, with eight of those coming against Celtic and Hearts in the 2025/26 campaign.
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When asked whether the marquee summer acquisition needed to consistently perform for his team to surpass Hearts and secure the top position in the league, Rohl responded, “I believe it’s not solely about Youssef.”
“The rival intensified their efforts in the second half. Momentum plays a crucial role in a match and affects how individuals perform. If you lose possession a couple of times, it becomes challenging to connect your next pass with a teammate. It requires a bit more confidence and faith in your own abilities.”
Andreas Skov Olsen assisted Chermiti for a stunning goal, yet the Danish player struggled to make an impact afterward and was substituted by Djeidi Gassama during the second half.
“He is progressing steadily,” remarked Rohl. “He has delivered some impressive assists. It’s all about our collective effort. No player should feel overly comfortable. We must strive to improve continuously in every match.”
“I recognize the direction we need to take, but unfortunately, we couldn’t maintain our performance from the first half into the second 45 minutes, which is why we feel let down. We must be disappointed in ourselves, and then we can progress.”
“There were instances when we lost possession in areas where we shouldn’t have. We provided them with opportunities for quick transitions and allowed the game to open up when our intention was to maintain a compact formation.”
At Ibrox yesterday, Celtic’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, in the center, and Rangers’ Andreas Skov Olsen, on the right, contested possession of the ball (Image: Steve Welsh)
“We aimed to strengthen the midfield by introducing a third player (Mohammed Diomande took the place of Ryan Naderi). Ultimately, football relies on energy. However, it was evident that we struggled to regain our momentum against an opponent who gave their all.”
“I would need to reflect and tally how many opportunities they created because aside from the penalty, I can’t really recall how many attempts they made. But this is football; we must learn and accept it. We will discuss it, and then next week we will aim to improve for the next match.”
When asked about his feelings regarding Hatate having three opportunities to score the equaliser during injury time, Rohl responded, “Firstly, you have to acknowledge that Jack [Butland] made an incredible save. It was somewhat fortunate that the ball fell perfectly for him [Hatate] rather than to the side.”
“It was an incredible second save. However, overall it’s difficult to accept today since the equalizer came so late and it was a penalty too. We have to deal with it today, but it’s my responsibility to instill in them the confidence that we can bounce back.”