The transformation was nothing short of miraculous. When Danny Röhl took the reins at Ibrox in October 2025, Rangers were “off the floor,” languishing at the wrong end of the table and devoid of confidence. Fast forward six months, and Röhl has been widely lauded for dragging the Light Blues back into a title fight that seemed impossible at Christmas.
But in Glasgow, credit has a short shelf life. Following a post-split home defeat to Motherwell and a damaging loss at Tynecastle, the German manager is currently facing his first true storm of criticism. As club legend Barry Ferguson puts it, Röhl is quickly realizing that life at Rangers is lived in the “fast lane”—and there are no prizes for second place.
The Mentality Question
Despite the tactical improvements Röhl has brought to Ibrox, the “old questions” about this squad’s mentality have resurfaced. Time and again, when the pressure reaches a boiling point, the team has failed to deliver.
- The Recent Slump: Two losses in the post-split fixtures have left Rangers’ title challenge “hanging by a thread.”
- The “Supercomputer” Verdict: Statistical models now give Rangers a mere one per cent chance of winning the Premiership title over the final three games.
Ferguson argues that while the criticism from fans may feel harsh, it is “part of the package” when you lead a club where anything less than silverware is considered a failure.
A Learning Curve at Warp Speed
For a manager with relatively little head-coaching experience before Ibrox, this season has been a masterclass in crisis management. Ferguson believes Röhl will have learned more in six months in Glasgow than he would have in three years at almost any other club.
- Tactical Scrutiny: Fans have been quick to point out Röhl’s “delayed” response to Derek McInnes’ half-time changes at Tynecastle, using it as a stick to beat him with—conveniently forgetting his game-changing substitutions against Falkirk and Motherwell earlier in the month.
- Handling the Heat: Ferguson’s advice to the German is simple: Don’t take it personally. The anger from the stands isn’t a reflection of his work, but a symptom of the fans feeling let down by a lack of results.
The Sunday Showdown: Pride or a “Hearts Favor”?
The immediate focus shifts to Sunday’s derby against Celtic at Parkhead. While the title is likely out of reach, the stakes remain high for professional pride.
Rangers fans find themselves in the bizarre position of knowing a victory over their rivals could technically help Hearts in their own pursuit of the title, but Ferguson insists that shouldn’t matter.
”It’s about doing it for your own professional pride, for the shirt you’re wearing and for the people it represents,” Ferguson writes. “Beating Celtic won’t make up for the recent disappointments but it would be a good start.”
The Verdict: A Better Manager for the Battle
Whether Rangers finish the season with a trophy or not, Danny Röhl will emerge from this campaign as a more rounded leader. He has defended his players in public and navigated the most intense environment in Scottish football.
If Röhl can guide the team to nine points from their remaining fixtures against Celtic, Hibs, and Falkirk, he will at least enter the summer with his “head a little higher.” But as he is learning, at Rangers, the fire never truly goes out—it just waits for the next season to begin.
Ibrox Watch: With the 2026 title looking destined for elsewhere, the pressure on the summer recruitment drive will be immense. Röhl’s ability to overhaul the squad’s “fragile” mentality will be the defining theme of his second season.
