The Light Blues face off with struggling Livingston this weekend as they push for the title
11:14, 20 Feb 2026
Rangers manager Danny Rohl
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Rangers manager Danny Rohl(Image: PA)
Danny Rohl has warned Rangers against falling into the same trap that has put Arsenal’s Premier League dreams in doubt down south.
The Ibrox boss takes his team to Premiership basement boys Livingston on Sunday looking to keep pace with table-toppers Hearts. But the German gaffer - who admits he has a mystery Old Firm injury sweat - is wary of repeating the costly mistake made by Mikael Arteta’s North London giants this week.
The Gunners misfired against relegation favourites Wolves on Wednesday after blowing a two-goal lead.
A win would have sent Arteta’s team seven points clear of closest rivals Manchester but now they could have their lead slashed back to just two when if Pep Guardiola’s outfit can see off Newcastle on Saturday night.
Rohl - whose own side find themselves only two behind Derek McInnes’ high-flying Hearts after last Sunday’s thrilling win over the Jambos - said: “I think the mindset with our players is completely there.
“When you beat Celtic away and you beat Hearts at home, this is not so bad.
“It’s now about these games where you think you have to win and to take the three points, this is crucial.
“If you want you can compare a similar situations like Arsenal against Wolverhampton. Some people thought that it was an easy win but even in these games the teams down there at the bottom, sometimes they have not so much to lose against the bigger teams.
“Against us, they try everything, so it's very important that we go with a serious attitude.
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The Rangers players celebrate with their fans
“But I feel at the moment there's no doubt about that. Even in the training session yesterday there was 100 percent focus on the next action, and it was good to see that.
“Nobody is being lazy, everyone wants to be part of the group, I think this is also good so we have the challenge in the starting XI, and the challenge to be in the squad. That is massive.”
The fight for jerseys might be fierce but Rohl admits he’s preparing to make alterations to the team that clobbered Hearts 4-2 ahead of the trip to the Almondvale astro.
He refused to name names but revealed one of his top stars could be a doubt for next week’s Premiership clash with Celtic at Ibrox and the Scottish Cup derby shoot-out the following week.
He said: “We have to change some players. Well, I don’t want to, I have to. There's small injuries, but I cannot go into too much detail today, but you will see, I think on Sunday.
“I think one player will be two or three weeks.
“And the other one is doubtful for Sunday, we have to make a decision. Let’s see, it could be two or three changes for the weekend.”
There is better news on the fitness front, however, with Derek Cornelius and Connor Barron nearing returns.
Rohl said: “Derek started yesterday with the first session of the team, not everything. I think that part of the session was a good step. I think in the next two weeks we'll make a step forward.
“I think Connor could be next week that is part of the training session. Yeah, he looks good, he’s pushed and hopefully he puts everything in now and maybe in two weeks [he could be back] as well.”
The news of fresh injuries will worry the anxious Ibrox support.
But Rohl is increasingly confident of his team’s title chances after seeing Gers twice come from behind to hammer Hearts.
He said: “The last couple of weeks have gone fantastic.
“It was a good statement at the weekend, I think also to come back after those two times, there's small setbacks if you concede goals.
“The atmosphere was good straight after the game, the training was good, even the players that didn't play are very motivated and hungry to train.
“Now we have to continue, we have to keep our intensity, I think this is crucial.
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“But we know in these games from now on, you have to take a win because otherwise it makes no sense to win the game before.”
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