Danny Rohl has identified three key areas at the top of his Christmas wishlist as he attempts to transform Rangers from turmoil into genuine title contenders.
Eighth in the table. One win in seven. Just four points above the relegation zone. Eleven adrift of leaders Hearts. Goals shipping in from all angles.
Those grim numbers summed up the chaos left behind by Russell Martin, whose Ibrox reign collapsed after just 122 dismal days. Yet barely two months after his departure, there are clear signs that Rohl has already undone much of the damage.
Gradually, the German coach has hauled Rangers back into contention. A stunning return of 20 points from a possible 24 has lifted the Light Blues from the bottom half into third place. The defensive collapse has been addressed, with five clean sheets in eight league matches, while a previously blunt attack has started to show signs of life.
Suddenly, an unlikely title push no longer feels impossible.
To keep that momentum alive, Rangers must find a way past Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday. Victory would slash the gap to six points, with a game still in hand, putting Derek McInnes’ side firmly within reach. It has taken eight weeks of relentless work to restore belief, and Rohl has made it clear he will not allow that progress to unravel.
“We have to keep taking points consistently,” he said. “Otherwise, you destroy all the good work. This is crucial. At the moment, the team is capable of competing and picking up results.
“We are playing teams who are also on strong runs. Nobody will give us anything. But I am very positive about where we are and what we can still improve.”
Rohl acknowledged that Rangers remain a work in progress, but believes the foundations are finally in place.
“There are still areas where we are not at our best, but even then, we are taking points. That’s an important base.”
The Gers may not be playing the expansive football Martin promised, but they are far more resilient. That resolve was evident on Monday night as they ground out a hard-fought 1-0 win over Hibernian. Another gritty display will be required if they are to complete a double over the capital clubs.
Asked about the significance of beating Hearts, Rohl added: “Then we would be six points behind them with a game in hand. That changes the picture completely from when I arrived. But there is still a long way to go.
“We need consistency and clean sheets. That is the basic requirement. It will be a tight game with little space. Both teams will fight for every inch.”
He also praised his squad’s mindset, insisting they remain self-critical despite the improved results.
“The players are honest with themselves. They know what needs to improve. My job is to make sure we don’t become complacent. If we stop progressing, we will stand still — and that’s not good enough.”
Despite the resurgence, Rohl knows his squad still lacks the quality to sustain a title challenge without reinforcements. Plans are already in place to strengthen the spine of the team in January.
A centre-back, a dominant central midfielder, and a striker sit at the top of his priority list.
“We are becoming harder to break down, especially in the last line,” he said. “That has improved a lot, and we need a clean-sheet mentality.
“With the ball, we still need better connections. Sometimes players act individually rather than as a unit. Improving without the ball comes quicker. Improving with it takes time.”
For Rangers, the chaos has been steadied. Now comes the test of whether Rohl can take them one step further — and turn recovery into a real title tilt.
Leave a Reply