Max Aarons outlines his Danny Rohl excitement despite Old Firm defeat

The German saw his side crash to a dramatic derby defeat as Rangers missed out on a place in the Premier Sports Cup final. A James Tavernier penalty took the tie to extra-time, but Rohl’s ten men lost out at the end of a controversial clash.

It was another missed opportunity for Rangers as they failed to capitalise on a weak Celtic side that were guided by interim manager Martin O’Neill. Thelo Aasgaard’s dismissal changed the course of the game, but Rangers still had their chances as Youssef Chermiti, Nico Raskin and Djeidi Gassama were all guilty of squandering big moments in an end-to-end encounter.

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Rohl must now pick his players up as attentions turn to the Europa League fixture with Roma on Thursday evening. The Premiership trip to face Dundee is more important in the grand scheme of things and Aarons believes there are reasons to be optimistic heading into a run of matches that will define the campaign at Ibrox.

"In any Old Firm, any semi, you have to be disappointed if you don't come out on top,” Aarons said. "However, putting that to the side, I'm really, really excited by this manager and what he's brought. And I've seen a change in the team.

"Personally, I feel really confident at the moment, and I think we have to move on to the Roma game now and before Sunday, we had two good results and we really have to push on that now.

"I think the intensity that we're bringing into games now, both with the ball, without the ball. The intensity that we're bringing now, I think is good.

"I think we're being more streetwise in terms of, you know, seeing games out, obviously, Sunday aside. But, you know, there's definitely some positives, as people can probably see. But feeling it from within, there's been some big, positive steps I can feel.

"I think the intensity that he wants to bring [has impressed me]. He's come in and laid out how he wants to wants to play and perform.

"And there are bits in there that from the past when I've been a part of teams that push in the right direction and teams that have done well, all of those things are there to see. And I think he's really brought that, he's brought a calmness and a togetherness that I think he's really good at that. Like I said, hopefully we can build that."

Rangers are all but out of contention in the Europa League following the defeats to Genk, Sturm Graz and SK Brann so far this term. It renders the visit of the Serie A giants almost meaningless on what could have been one of the great nights under the Ibrox floodlights in recent times.

Supporters have been encouraged by what they have seen of Rohl so far following his appointment as Russell Martin’s successor last month. The derby defeat is not a result or a performance that can be glossed over but Aarons is eager to make amends sooner rather than later.

"It's been really difficult for them,” Aarons said. "But it has to start with us.

"We have to give them that lift, we have to show them the performances, we have to show them a fight, and we have to show them results and wins. Like I said, we'd had two games where, I feel like we've taken a real big step.

"Sunday, circumstances, however, you want to look at it. But ultimately, we're out of the cup now and that's the frustrating part."

"Yeah, of course [this feels like a setback]. Like I said, it hurts. In an Old Firm semi-final, I keep repeating myself on that.

"But in isolation, we have to put that to aside now, we've got to make some steps in the Europa League now with the results we've had and that starts on Thursday and then the league again on Sunday, which if we build on that, we have to keep winning in the league.”