Interview

Danilo makes Rangers goal vow and assesses Premiership title ambitions

Danilo will feature against Hibs at Ibrox <i>(Image: Stuart Wallace / Shutterstock)</i>
Danilo will feature against Hibs at Ibrox (Image: Stuart Wallace / Shutterstock)
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Danilo is confident the goals will come for the Rangers strike force as he sets his sights on victory over Hibernian to keep the Premiership dream alive at Ibrox.

Danny Rohl’s side will return to domestic duty on Monday evening with the first match of a defining league run. Over the next seven fixtures, Rangers also face Hearts, host Motherwell and St Mirren, head across Glasgow for the Old Firm and have a double-header with Aberdeen.

The 2-1 defeat to Ferencvaros on Thursday evening ended the faint hopes of a shot at Europa League progression this term. Now the full focus is on the Premiership and the deficits to Hearts and Celtic.


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Bojan Miovski followed up his brace in the win over Kilmarnock with the opening goal in Budapest. Danilo failed to add to his tally after three this term, while Youssef Chermiti still has a solitary goal to his name as the spotlight has shone on the Ibrox attack.

“We are trying to be connected as a team, but for me personally I want to score,” Danilo said. “I believe I will score because all I want to do is help the team. 

“At the moment it's not coming, but I'm happy for the other guys that are scoring. Right now Bojan is doing well and scoring, so he is helping us in that way. Obviously if I can score and help the team then great.

“Hard work is the most important thing. Obviously you need to be playing games. You need some match sharpness to bring the best out of yourself. 

“At the moment that's what the coach is trying to help me with. He's trying to keep me playing and he’s doing everything best for the team. Everything he demands of me on the pitch I give him. 

“Obviously I want to be clinical in the final third and I hope on Monday I can get some opportunities to deliver that. You saw with Bojan, if you get one goal they can start to come.

Bojan Miovski celebrates with Danilo (Image: Michael Zemanek / Shutterstock)

“I think this is what we're living for as a striker. If you get the opportunity you have to score. That's the thing for me as well. If I get the opportunity I have to make sure I'm clinical and score.” 

The defeat to Budapest reaffirmed the work that Rohl must undertake to make Rangers competitive on the continent. A single point has been earned from six matches and Rangers have now lost their last five away games in European competition.

The picture is more positive at home, however. Rohl has five wins from his seven Premiership matches and momentum has started to be built since the German replaced Russell Martin as head coach.

“There were a lot of things happening in and around the club,” Danilo said. “Obviously right now we are back on track and that’s why it’s important to take it day by day.

“We have so many games and we are playing for ourselves and for the fans. We just want to get results and win games.

“Every game is difficult, every game is huge. We need to make sure our mentality is right. We have to do what the manager wants us to do. Tomorrow is another opportunity to rest, look back and to see what we can bring to the pitch on Monday.”

The visit of David Gray’s side could be the perfect antidote to another night of woe in the Europa League and the matches with Ludogorets and Porto are now meaningless for Rangers. This run of Premiership outings are anything but right now and the festive schedule will test a squad that has been depleted in recent weeks.

“It's a lot,” Danilo said as he assessed the run into the New Year. “It's also a lot for the head. There's a lot of games that are really important. 

“This is the most important period so it's going to decide a lot in terms of the season. Right now we just have to be ready for everything that's coming. We have to be united as a group and be ready for everything.” 

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