Ibrox View: Rangers boss Danny Rohl simply must pass this critical test vs Celtic

Danny Rohl certainly looked composed enough while insisting that he was “100 per cent” convinced he would still be in charge of Rangers next season.

But he will know the rumour mill will continue to churn relentlessly. Results nosediving in the past fortnight delivered the final nail in the Premiership title challenge coffin, while an inability to perform consistently has thrust him back into the spotlight.

There remain serious doubts whether he is indeed the man to lead the Light Blues into an uncertain future, but for now, he will be allowed to keep rolling with the punches. His future is believed to be safe, owing to the hierarchy having no appetite to make a change.

Still, they cannot ignore the blindingly obvious truth. If they lose against Celtic in the Old Firm on Sunday, they will be consigned to third place. While Rohl deserves credit for rebuilding after Russell Martin‘s dire stint, ending the campaign on a whimper isn’t acceptable.

Rohl has also been linked with Wolfsburg in recent days, and could be tempted to take up the job over the coming months for a clean break from his Ibrox woes.

Danny Rohl hasn’t dealt with Rangers egos

This summer could be one of drastic change, then, and supporters are unlikely to mind one jot. While their frustration with error-strewn displays and fragile confidence hasn’t tipped over into apathy just yet, finishing behind Hearts and Celtic would be one humiliation too far.

It will be a second successive campaign without a trophy. They haven’t tasted silverware since lifting the 2023 League Cup, which came relatively hot on the heels of their Scottish Cup triumph and Premiership glory in 2021. There has been no consistency.

Since 2021, Celtic have won nine trophies while Aberdeen and St Mirren boast one each. Hearts’ likely title win will be their first since 1960. Out of the past 15 years, Rangers have been empty-handed in 12 of them. Rohl has been tasked with stopping the rot.

For what it’s worth, the 37-year-old understands the magnitude of that challenge. He has immersed himself in the culture of the club, donning the trademark suit and tie. He acknowledges that he carries with him the burden of history. Simply, he gets Rangers.

That made it all the more surprising that he has been so reluctant to address the elephant in the room: his players’ brittle and unpredictable mentality.

“If we only speak about mentality, we will not move forward in the future,” said Rohl ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm derby. “It’s part of it. But if you look back and we’re honest with each other, in the last 15 years we haven’t won what we should have.

“This is the part I have to change. And for this, we have to make a lot of things better. That starts to set the standards. In the last six months, we’ve improved them, higher and higher. But in the last seven days (losses against Motherwell and Hearts) we couldn’t.”

Punters, however, may not agree with that assessment.

A lack of quality in crucial moments can be forgiven, as can costly mistakes. But underpinning everything has to be a flat-out determination and a necessary bullishness attached to the hallowed Rangers jersey.

That weight has proven too much for too many of these players.

It was telling that former boss Martin declared there were too many egos in his squad after the 1-1 draw with Motherwell on the very first day of the season. Rohl’s impact papered over the cracks, but now, they are beginning to widen again at the worst possible time.

Old Firm crucial test for Rohl

So, it has become clear that the latest Old Firm will be a real test of whether the squad have got the required minerals. They no longer have anything to play for, and their backs are firmly planted against the wall. Now is the time to banish questions over their ability.

Crucially, the result will also likely determine whether they truly are playing for Rohl.

Tuur Rommens threw his weight behind the under-fire head coach in the build-up to the showdown at Parkhead, but actions speak louder than words.

“I spoke with him before I came here and I was totally convinced of the style of playing, of his thoughts and ideas, what he has brought into this group,” said Rommens. “And I think he’s done a great job.” Players can talk all they want, but they must back it up on the pitch.

Both they and Rohl have so much to prove.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.