Rangers midfielder Nico Raskin has delivered a stark assessment of his team's Scottish Premiership predicament, admitting there is no margin for error left if their fading title ambitions are to be revived.
A Resurgence Halted at Tynecastle
The Ibrox club had appeared to be building momentum under manager Danny Rohl, embarking on an 11-game unbeaten league run that suggested a revival. However, that resurgence was brought to a shuddering halt on Sunday with a 2-1 defeat away to league leaders Hearts. The loss leaves Rangers in a precarious fourth position, a point behind Motherwell and a daunting 12 points adrift of Hearts at the summit.
Raskin's Frank Admission on Title Hopes
When questioned about the possibility of mounting a charge back into contention, Raskin was candid about the challenge ahead. "Football is unpredictable and you never know what is going to happen," he stated. "We are not looking that far forward, we are just looking game to game. We need to win every game now, that’s it."
The Belgian international emphasised the relentless pressure his side is under, a feeling that has been present since the campaign began. "We don’t have room for error. It’s been like that since the start of the season, we can’t afford to lose more points," Raskin admitted.
A Stark Reality Check for Gers
Raskin described the Tynecastle loss as a "reality check" for the squad, halting the optimism generated by their recent unbeaten streak. "We are disappointed and very frustrated," he said. "We can’t throw everything away but we need to be honest, look at the moment and say we’ve not been good enough."
He acknowledged the unusual position of trailing Hearts so significantly, a situation he has not experienced since arriving at Ibrox. "Obviously it’s not great, it’s never been like that since I arrived," Raskin conceded. "But that is the reality right now... It’s up to us to learn and go forward, the season is still very long. But we can’t just keep saying that, we need to really improve."
The immediate fixture list offers little respite. Rangers now face a critical period, hosting in-form Motherwell and Premier Sports Cup winners St Mirren in their next two matches, before the daunting trip to Celtic Park on January 3rd.
Raskin called for unity during this difficult period, recognising the hurt within the dressing room and among the supporters. "I feel it a lot, everyone in the dressing-room is very hurt," he said. "The only way forward is to stick together and keep trying to build something. There comes a point where we will get back to where we need to be. It’s just some tough times right now."
