Tochi Chukwuani has vowed to create ‘magical moments’ at Ibrox and give Rangers supporters the Premiership crown that they are dreaming of this term.
Danny Rohl’s side head into their visit of Dundee United knowing that a win would take them top of the table for the first time this season. It may prove to be a short-lived affair ahead of Hearts’ trip to face Livingston but it would still be a significant milestone for a team that were written off as title contenders before the German’s appointment as head coach.
Chukwuani has immersed himself in the club following his move from Sturm Graz in January. He has made an immediate and impressive impact for Rangers and his form will be crucial in the coming weeks if Rohl’s side are to see off Hearts and Celtic and lift the silverware.
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The United showdown is the first of seven must-win matches in the final stages of the campaign. And Chukwuani is ready and raring to go as he sets his sights on a second title triumph in as many seasons after his Austrian glory last term.
“We just try to focus on ourselves,” Chukwuani said. “So I think when we do our job [against Dundee United], then we'll take it next weekend and then the next after that.
“It's been fantastic experiencing the fans, experiencing the stadium. I think it's just like a dream to play here. It’s something you just want to create more magical moments, especially with the fan group that's here. This is something you look back at, and you just think 'wow, what a magical place.'
“Yes, I know it would mean the world to people, especially when you walk around the city, and everyone is talking about the 56. You can just hear people screaming at you, walking down the road, you can feel the passion, and this is something, when you step on the pitch, you just want to give everything in your power back to the fans with gratitude displays and a lot of wins.
“Yes, I think we have confidence in ourselves and our own abilities, and we know we have a lot of players also going to play for their respective national teams. That also goes to show that we have quality within the group, but as I said, it's game by game that we just need to put down the pitch, and [the Dundee United game] is another day to show that.”
Rangers will look to pick up where they left off at Ibrox after recording successive wins against St Mirren and Aberdeen heading into the international break. Rohl’s side sit second in the standings and are just three points adrift of Hearts ahead of the sprint to the finish.
Victory over United would be another step in the right direction. Chukwuani opened the scoring in the win against the Dons and will have a leading role to play at Ibrox after settling into the side with ease following his £4million switch.
“Yeah, it's been good,” Chukwuani said of the international break. “We've just tried to maintain fitness levels and just tried to keep up and have some good sessions. Then also we had a couple of days off, which was also nice for the body.
“I think I've definitely brought some of my physicality into the game, and my power in the midfield. I think that's been a nice mix, especially in the style of how Scottish football is, with intensity and physicality.
“I think [Scottish football] is very much intense, very much back-and-forth, end-to-end stuff, and you need to be very fit to be able to play this kind of football, and I think it's a challenging league.
“I think we've just taken it step-by-step and you can see each step is just getting better. Obviously [it] is a chance for us to go top, and we are just trying to take the three points again.”
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