Rangers show growth but no proper statement win ahead of facing 'nervous' Celtic

Martin O’Neill’s position may have been as a caretaker but five largely successful years in charge of Celtic between 2000 and 2005 afforded him muscle memory of beating Rangers. In the end, the green-and-white half of Glasgow prevailed 3-1 after extra time at Hampden to reach the Premier Sports Cup final.

O’Neill won’t be on the touchline this Saturday, even if some Celtic fans would instantly parachute him in over current incumbent Wilfried Nancy. The 48-year-old’s tenure has started inauspiciously with five defeats and just two wins across all competitions.

Rohl smiled when it was put to him that he will be the elder statesman of the fixture this time around. “Thank you for this experience,” he said. “But yeah, I think it's also my first one in the stadium for them. In the last years, I had some derbies as well. But this is a special one. I think even when you are not in Glasgow, you watch this game. And this is always really in your mind. A lot of people will watch it.”

Perhaps more so this time around. Celtic and Rangers are in a four-way wrestle for the Premiership title with leaders Hearts and surprise contenders Motherwell. The stakes are higher than your usual Old Firm clash.

Rohl has only lost one league match since taking over in October. That defeat by Hearts two weeks ago for some observers ruled them out of the title equation but Rangers have shown resilience if not resplendour. None of their victories have been particularly convincing but in beating Motherwell and St Mirren after Christmas, they are three points behind second-placed Celtic and six off Hearts.

What they lack under Rohl is a statement victory. You have to go back to the Champions League qualifiers in the summer, when Rangers defeated Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen, to put a ring around a noteworthy result.

Rangers’ need for a statement win

Rohl is aware of this. For all that Rangers have improved under him, have become harder to beat, they need to elevate themselves. A win at Celtic Park could definitely be put in the “statement” category.

“I can say at first it's just three points,” said Rohl. “But this game is never about just three points. There's an emotional side. But it will be a big booster again for the way where we are at the moment. But on the other side, if you can't win this game, then the season is still on. And I think if we show this now after the Hearts game, what it means to come straight back with results. We need a long run this season. And if we do this, then I see at the moment a big, big belief that there's something.

“It would be amazing [to win]. Not just for me, I think for all supporters. The atmosphere in the semi-final was outstanding in the second half. I think we were one man less but everyone in the stadium had the feeling we can beat them. In the end, we took the equaliser very late in the game. Fully deserved. And then in the extra time, they scored two times. And now it's for us to take something. That would be fantastic. And for this, we need a big, big performance.”

Rohl also knows that Rangers are facing Celtic at an opportune moment. The Nancy era has not started well. The natives are restless.

“I think they're nervous, what you heard so far,” noted Rohl. “But I think it's about us, how we start in such a game. I totally believe if we are right there and we are on front foot and we can win some good balls and we hurt them, then they will be more nervous. But if they create some good moments in the beginning, then I think the crowd will be straight behind them. And I think this is a bit more beside the tactic, also the emotional and psychological things, what we have to understand.

“I think every team, every system has weaknesses. On the one side, it's about that we give them not too much spaces and freedom to exploit the game. I think this is also crucial. On the other side, you have to understand in which area you have to defend your box as best as you can. And if you find the mix, especially if you play quick and fast in the areas where they have problems, then you're in a good way,

“But it's also about how aggressive we are in the duels. I think that will be tomorrow a crucial thing. And then I want to see a brave team. Even we have to understand that you're also doing the game in some moments where you have to defend really well around your own box.”

The psychological impact of prevailing at Celtic Park isn’t lost on Rohl. “I'm not lying ... If you take the winter over there, then our confidence is much, much higher,” he added. “We have a big confidence at the moment. We have a big belief. I think when I look to my players at the moment, to the eyes, how they are focused on the next game, on the next game.

“I think at the beginning, when I arrived, we were not sure if we can win games. And now you feel more that we believe that we can win games. And the good thing is also that we score different goals now. I think if it's not possible in an open play to score, then we use our set play at the moment. And if it's not possible, then we use transition moments. And if it's not possible to score, then we have clean sheets. I think this is also important to understand.

“I think the package is growing at the moment but we cannot do less. We have to do more and more and more. And this is a big, big goal and mindset for us.”

With that in mind, nothing but a positive result for Rangers will do.