Rangers manager Danny Rohl has declared that defender Derek Cornelius will be granted one last chance to prove his commitment and play a role in the club's pursuit of the Scottish Premiership title. The relationship between the pair appears strained, with the 28-year-old centre-back recently excluded from the first-team squad and forced to train individually over the past few days.
Cornelius Faces Crunch Talks After International Duty
Currently on a season-long loan from French club Marseille, Cornelius has only just returned from an extended injury absence, with his last appearance for Rangers dating back to November. Rohl instructed the player to depart early to join the Canadian national team ahead of their upcoming fixtures against Iceland and Tunisia.
The defender, who seemed a promising acquisition for Rangers before his injury setback, is set for decisive discussions with the manager upon his return to Glasgow. "Derek will travel to the national team, I've given him the opportunity to go early," stated Rohl, whose team prepares to host Aberdeen at Ibrox on Saturday evening.
Manager Emphasises Principles and Clarity
"I had conversations in the last couple of days with him, and I will have a conversation again when he comes back," Rohl explained. "All these things, and what it means, will be between me and Derek, this is crucial. I have my principles, that is very important. Derek and me are very clear, and that's the reason we need to have one more conversation after the international break. Then we will see which direction it goes."
Rohl revealed he has spoken multiple times with Canada manager Jesse Marsch, describing them as good friends who trust each other. "In the end, it's about the club, Rangers. I've been with a national team so I know what it means to play in a World Cup. That is also a part where I will support Derek, so he's available for the World Cup."
Regarding Cornelius's training situation, Rohl added: "He trained with us and then, in the last couple of days, individually. We'll see after the break which direction it goes."
Rangers Firmly Back in Title Contention
Rohl's side have reinvigorated their title ambitions following a 1-0 victory away at St Mirren last weekend, narrowing the gap to league leaders Hearts to just three points. Although the performance in Paisley was far from spectacular, Rohl believes the intense pressure of the title race means securing points outweighs aesthetic displays.
"Time is running, less games to go, and, for us, it's about winning games," he asserted. "A good performance without a win is nothing. We need wins. It was not always the nicest game (against St Mirren) but, after the game, I took the three points instead of a good performance and a draw again."
Rohl emphasised the critical nature of the run-in, noting: "I think all the three clubs (Hearts, Celtic and Rangers) now know what it means. Every point that you drop now is crucial. That's the reason why it's all about the next cup final, and cup finals you have to win."
Team News and Aberdeen Challenge
In team news, Rohl confirmed that Andreas Skov Olsen is unlikely to feature against Aberdeen due to illness, with Mikey Moore also managing a minor issue. Mohamed Diomande and Tuur Rommens are both expected to be available after injury concerns.
Discussing the challenge posed by an Aberdeen side now led by new manager Stephen Robinson, Rohl commented: "A new manager gives new ideas and new energy. I think they will have a clear structure. I think the manager had a clear structure in St. Mirren and now he's in Aberdeen. Honestly, the last final eight games there is not an easy game."
"You look at it on paper and you say: 'Yes, it should be a win'. This is what we expect and what we have to do. There's no question mark. But all of these games are difficult. You have to handle the different challenges and that's what we have to prepare. My team knows exactly at the moment what we have to do and the kind of results."
