Rangers' lack of Scottish identity tackled with stinging response as fans sent power-packed Celtic message

Monday’s 2-1 defeat in the capital left Rangers with a mountain to climb in the race for silverware. In the eyes of many, there race is already run with three games still outstanding.

As the post-mortem got underway, the club’s all-time record goalscorer Ally McCoist flagged that head coach Danny Rohl used 16 players across the 90 minutes, none of whom were Scottish. A critical McCoist believes retaining a strong Scottish core is important for a club of Rangers’ size and stature, having starred in teams of years gone by which always had one.

Rangers’ squad was brimming with homegrown talent throughout the mid-1980s and 90s. McCoist, Ian Durrant, John Brown, Andy Goram... the list was endless.

Now, though, the picture is far different with only back-up goalkeeper Liam Kelly, defender John Souttar, midfielder Lyall Cameron - currently on loan at Aberdeen - and No 6 Connor Barron recruited from rival top-flight clubs in recent years.

Yet current head coach Danny Rohl has dismissed concerns about a lack of Scottish players being signed by Rangers, insisting the importance of it has been overplayed. He feels that, irrespective of a player’s nationality, it’s about signing the right type of player who can cope with the mentality and demands of playing for the club.

“I think it's for me not about Scottish players or non-Scottish players,” the German boss commented. “I think it's about to have the right players. They can deliver consistently under the highest pressure again and again.

“For me it doesn't matter which age it is, which culture, from which country they are coming. It's just important that they and that we, and this is important, we can deliver 90 minutes. Not just a good performance, 90 minutes for a good result and it means a win.”

Danny Rohl delivers emphatic message amid speculation over his future

Rangers will gear up for another busy transfer window this summer as Rohl attempts to mould his team into one which can taste more success. Amid heightened speculation over his future, he has vowed to return Rangers to their standing of serial trophy winners again.

In order to deliver on that promise, significant changes are required both in mindset and personnel. Asked whether he views the upcoming summer window as another rebuild or more an evolution of his squad, the 37-year-old replied: “I would say since I'm here we start to rebuild and to bring new players in.

“I think, and I take it not as an excuse, but very important, and this is what I took also from my time in Munich, to win titles you have to be on point in April and May. This is very crucial. When we look at ourselves at the moment, we are not in every position on our highest level where we should be.

“Unfortunately, you have with Tuur [Rommens] and Ryan [Naderi], for example, two key players in the moment out when they should not be. You have with Mikey [Moore], since six weeks, we manage him that he comes through. Dujon [Sterling], all the small pieces, exactly in these five games in the split you have to be on point. I take it not as an excuse, but you look into the full picture and then you think maybe these are exactly the two small details now to take it and to bring it to the end.”

Celtic clash presents Rangers with a chance to right some wrongs

Their fragile title hopes may have been dealt a knockout blow, but Rohl has spent the past five days trying to galvanise his Rangers squad. After all, there is the small matter of a sixth and final Old Firm derby of the season to prepare for this Sunday.

Determined to bounce back from two costly defeats by securing a second consecutive triumph at Parkhead, Rohl came out fighting in his pre-match press conference. On the prospect of facing Celtic back at the scene of January’s 3-1 Old Firm triumph in the east end of Glasgow, Rohl admitted: “Of course it is a special game for us.

“I think it was straight after the [Hearts] game as well the message to my players that we had a big responsibility for the last three games. Nobody needs extra motivation to go in this game. We want to make our supporters proud and that means we have to deliver a good result on Sunday and hopefully get three points.

“For us, it's about winning games and I think there's more trust about to stop someone else about winning a title. Everyone in our building is very clear. You take the right results and you can turn a small thing back in the right direction from the emotional level. Because the bigger picture, and we knew this, two defeats hurts really after maybe a hopeless season in October where nobody thought we can win something. You then come so close, you worked so hard on this as well. We spoke about mentality in general, but the same group showed us well in six months how they can come on this point.”

Asked what his message would be supporters who have questioned his in-game tactics and already written him off, Rohl responded: “Of course, I think we want to increase. We start the process, but a process without a winning of titles is not enough for our club. And in this direction, we move forward. I'm really motivated. I'm really ambitious for the new season to make the next step with a group of players. And to be, from the first day on, on front foot.”

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