Rangers manager Danny Rohl remains steadfast in his belief that he can be the man to finally unlock the immense potential within midfielder Nico Raskin, despite growing impatience from the Ibrox support.
The Raskin Conundrum at Ibrox
Nico Raskin's time at Rangers has been defined by frustrating inconsistency. The Belgian's underwhelming performance in the recent defeat at Tynecastle proved a final straw for many fans, with some suggesting the club should sell him in January. Rohl, however, is the sixth coach in nearly three years to attempt to solve the puzzle of the talented 22-year-old, who is under contract until 2027.
Previous managers have had mixed results. Barry Ferguson found some success during his brief interim spell earlier this year, while Russell Martin's relationship with the player soured dramatically after a falling out at the start of the season. Rohl acknowledges the dwindling patience but is determined to take a different path.
Rohl's Personal Blueprint for Improvement
The German coach is investing significant time in Raskin's development, holding individual meetings and crafting a clear plan. "I had an individual talk with him in the last days, very long, 25-30 minutes," Rohl revealed. "I'm absolutely convinced that he recognises what we are doing."
Rohl has identified Raskin's best position as a defensive midfielder, or number six. "For me, it's very clear that he is a No 6, because he likes to have the game in front of him," he stated, explaining that this role allows Raskin to drive play forward more effectively.
The focus of their work is on improving the team's structure in possession. "We lose the structure in possession sometimes," Rohl admitted, highlighting a need for better decision-making. "If you have option A and option B, and option B is the advantage, we decide too often to option A, the disadvantage."
Broader Challenges in the Rangers Squad
Raskin is not the only concern for Rohl, who also pinpointed a critical lack of goals from his forwards. By the Christmas period, strikers Youssef Chermiti, Bojan Miovski, and Danilo had managed only nine league goals between them. "No side can win a title if that persists," Rohl warned, indicating a three-way battle for the starting centre-forward role.
The manager understands the scale of the rebuild required at Ibrox, a task for which he has been granted significant leeway since taking over. That patience, however, is expected to be tested once he has navigated his first transfer window and begins to imprint his vision more permanently on the squad.
Rohl's immediate challenge is a match against Motherwell, a team he respects for their style. "They play a lot of 4-2-4 as a box in the middle. They have a lot of ball possession," he analysed, but backed his side to hurt them if they implement his tactical structure and intensity.
The coming weeks will be crucial for Raskin's future at Rangers. While speculation about a January sale persists, Rohl's detailed, hands-on approach suggests he is committed to coaxing the elite footballer he believes is hidden within the inconsistent midfielder.
