Rangers manager Danny Rohl has firmly rejected suggestions that his side bottled their opportunity after surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with arch-rivals Celtic in a dramatic Old Firm clash at Ibrox. The result proved costly for both Glasgow giants as they lost significant ground to league leaders Hearts in the Scottish Premiership title race.
First-Half Dominance Gives Way to Second-Half Collapse
Rangers produced what many observers described as their finest forty-five minutes of football under Rohl's management during the first half. The home side were utterly dominant, with striker Youssef Chermiti scoring a spectacular brace that included a breathtaking overhead kick. His double gave Rangers a commanding 2-0 lead at the interval, leaving the Ibrox faithful in buoyant mood.
However, the second half witnessed a remarkable and alarming collapse from the Light Blues. Celtic emerged from the break with renewed vigour and purpose, capitalising on Rangers' inability to maintain their intensity. The visitors pulled a goal back through Kieran Tierney before Reo Hatate struck a dramatic ninety-first minute equaliser to secure a precious point for the Hoops.
Rohl's Defiant Response to Mentality Questions
When questioned about his players' mentality after such a dramatic capitulation, Rohl was defiant in his response. 'No, I will not accept the questions over mentality,' the German manager stated emphatically. 'I think this is always easy. Everyone who played football knows during a game there is a story, there is a momentum for one team, for the second team.'
Rohl insisted that the focus should be on maintaining performance levels across the full duration of matches rather than questioning his squad's character. 'It's about continuing our performance over 95 minutes. If we do this, then they would not have a chance to come back,' he argued, acknowledging that his team failed to sustain their first-half excellence.
Title Race Implications and Hearts' Advantage
The draw has significant implications for the Scottish Premiership title race, with Hearts now establishing a substantial advantage over both Old Firm clubs. The Edinburgh side are currently six points clear of Rangers and eight points ahead of Celtic, though the latter have a game in hand which sees them travel to Aberdeen in midweek.
Despite the widening gap, Rohl remains adamant that his team are still firmly in contention for the championship. 'We have now six points, the gap, still with nine games to go,' he noted. 'I will not be tired and say this again and again, this year it's about the final matchday, not today. We will fight for every point until the end.'
Analysing the Performance Drop-Off
Rohl provided a detailed analysis of where his team faltered during the second half, pinpointing specific tactical issues that allowed Celtic back into the contest. 'In the second half, I think there were some moments where we lost the ball in areas we shouldn't,' he explained. 'We gave them some transition moments, then the field was too stretched, we lost a little bit of compactness.'
The Rangers boss acknowledged attempting to stabilise the midfield by introducing a third midfielder, but conceded that Celtic's energy and nothing-to-lose attitude ultimately proved decisive. 'Football is then about energy. As an opponent they tried everything with nothing to lose,' Rohl admitted.
Looking Ahead to Cup Clash and League Run-In
Rohl has already turned his attention to next week's Scottish Cup encounter against Celtic, viewing it as an immediate opportunity for redemption. 'Next week in the cup we have the next chance against them, we will try to improve, this is key,' he declared. 'And then we go again. I think nine games, it's massive, it's a lot of things to go for playing and I totally believe in my players.'
The Rangers manager believes his team set a new benchmark with their first-half performance against Celtic, but stressed the need for greater consistency. 'I think this is our benchmark, what we should play in the future more and more,' Rohl asserted. 'Not just 50 minutes, it's about 95 minutes. We couldn't keep this performance and this is what we have to improve.'
Despite the evident disappointment at dropping two points from a winning position, Rohl maintains a philosophical perspective. 'At the moment, the feeling is more disappointment because you dropped two points after a 2-0 lead,' he conceded. 'Finally, it's a draw. It's always a little bit lucky for a team to get a late penalty. This is normal, I would say it's the same when we get a pen late in the game.'
With twenty-seven points still available from the remaining nine league fixtures, Rohl insists the championship race remains wide open. 'All games now will be tough for all the teams. We believe until the end,' he vowed. 'This season, the decision making will be on the last matchday.'
