Rangers Manager Danny Rohl Declares Team Shed Fear Ahead of Motherwell Clash
Danny Rohl has emphatically stated that his Rangers side are no longer 'too fearful, too respectful or too scared' of their opponents as they gear up for a pivotal away fixture against Motherwell on Wednesday evening. The German tactician, who took over from Russell Martin in October, has overseen a remarkable transformation in fortunes at Ibrox.
Newfound Confidence Under Rohl's Leadership
Fresh from being awarded the Scottish Premiership Glen's manager of the month for January—a period in which Rangers secured a perfect 12 points from four league matches—Rohl expressed his delight at the growing self-belief permeating his squad. 'I feel that we have confidence, we want to show where we are, and what we can do on the pitch,' he remarked.
Reflecting on recent performances, Rohl pointed to the 2-0 victory at Aberdeen as evidence of the team's burgeoning character. 'In the last couple of weeks, when you go to Aberdeen, for example, this is also a tough place, we showed a big character,' he said. However, he cautioned that every match now presents a significant challenge, particularly in the second half of the season where each point is crucial.
'I said this after the Hibs game (0-0), even this point is important to take it,' Rohl noted. 'We're looking forward more now to such a game as (Motherwell). A couple of weeks ago we were maybe a little bit too respectful, too fearful, too scared for such a game; now we're looking forward to it.'
Focus on Performance and Courageous Play
Rohl emphasised that while confidence is high, it must translate into consistent on-pitch delivery. 'But it's about performance on the pitch, I can speak a lot about where we are at the moment, but we have to deliver again and again and, if we do this, then we have a great opportunity to make the next small step on our journey,' he asserted.
The manager outlined his proactive philosophy, stating, 'My mindset is always, go for a win instead of a draw, and when you go in a game, this mindset changes everything, because then you are not fearful, or too respectful.' He elaborated on this approach, explaining, 'We respect all the opponents, but you know what I mean, it's about, you are in front of another opponent, do you want to score, or you think: "Maybe not".'
'No, I want to see a team that goes with courage on the pitch, and is always ready to score goals,' Rohl declared, underscoring his commitment to an attacking, fearless style of play.
Upcoming Fixtures and Old Firm Derby
Rangers face a demanding schedule, having been drawn at home against Celtic in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup. This sets up back-to-back clashes with their Old Firm rivals in early March, preceded by a Premiership encounter at Ibrox the weekend before.
Rohl acknowledged the significance of these matches, saying, 'I don't know how often you have as a club in one week to have such two big games. I'm looking forward to more support in the home game, because I like to play in front of our fans, and we have two great opportunities in one week, and let's see what we can do.'
He added, 'It will be special. In all the games ahead of us; Motherwell, Hearts, we have to do a job in Livingston, and then you have these two big games. As a supporter you will enjoy when you take the right results, as a manager I will also enjoy these games, because it's the reason why we play football.'
Manager of the Month Award and Future Ambitions
On receiving the manager of the month accolade, the former Sheffield Wednesday boss remained grounded, stating, 'Yeah, great, of course, but it's all about my team, my coaches around me, and I'm honest, it is a small prize in one of the seasons where we want to have a bigger prize. Let's see what we can do.'
Motherwell's Defensive Resilience and Ambitions
Motherwell, currently sitting fourth in the Premiership—eight points behind Rangers with a game in hand and five points adrift of Celtic—boast an impressive defensive record at Fir Park. They have not been defeated at home since a 2-1 loss to Falkirk on October 18, with no visiting team managing to score in the nine subsequent matches.
Defender Paul McGinn, a key component of Motherwell's robust backline, hopes the focus shifts to the attackers. 'It's just not as glamorous, is it? I hope come Thursday we're still talking about the attacking players,' he said. 'We can keep a clean sheet but they're the ones that get us the win.'
Reflecting on the Falkirk defeat, McGinn admitted, 'It seems so long ago now. We were in control of that game and let it slip away, so it's one that annoys us.' He acknowledged the role of fortune in their defensive success but attributed it primarily to hard work and organisation. 'I'm sure there's luck involved as well but, for the most part, we are so strong and secure that teams can't really play through us and we work really hard on that.'
McGinn concluded, 'We had a few that have just gone by the post, so you do need that luck, but it's no coincidence as well that we're keeping it to a minimum.' Motherwell will be seeking their first victory over Rangers this season, having previously recorded a 1-1 draw and a 1-0 defeat.
