Rangers suffer mystery injury setbacks ahead of Livi and Celtic ties

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• Sticking to 4-4-2, squad rotation, eyes on rivals - How does Rohl approach Livi?
• The spirit of Walter and Rohl's fan bond - Why Ibrox crowd is Rangers 12th man

How is the squad?

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.

How is Derek Cornelius and his recovery going?

Yeah, he 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.

How pleased are you to see John Souttar sign a new contract?

Yeah, I think it's important that we have, they are also leaders, to continue with them. John has done a good job so far, not just on the pitch but also off the pitch. He leads the group. For me it is important to have a core together to build up something around. I’m very happy that they continue our way.

It could be an exciting end to the season for him with the title and the World Cup…

Yeah, hopefully it will be a great summer for him, I think to finish our season very strong from here would be fantastic, and then to go to a World Cup, I think this is always special. I must say also the World Cup in the USA, Canada, I think this is a nice place for a player to go there, good stadiums, good atmosphere, it will be a great experience.

How much positivity did the squad take from the win at the weekend?

Yeah, generally you have to go from game to game. I think the last couple of weeks have gone fantastic, I think it was a good statement on 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, very motivated, hungry to train and have a good training session. We have to continue, we have to keep our intensity, I think this is crucial. It's nearly the first week, it's a normal week if you want, it's a different rhythm, but it's important that we keep our intensity in training, but also to give them a little bit of rest for the mind. That's what we did so far, they felt really well, they're well prepared, but we know in these games now, you have to take your homework, you have to take a win, because otherwise it makes no sense to win the game before.

You said of Youssef that big players score in big games but does he need to score on a more regular basis now?

Yeah, of course, as a striker you always want to score. I think he always tried to score, he comes in fantastic situations, also before I think it was always important that he had these moments, and now it's about being clinical. I think against Hearts, he had a fantastic day, it was really outstanding. Also good assists before, I think back to the cross ball from Skov for example, I think it was great to see him. Yeah, it's also about these games, I think in the second half of the season you cannot speak about small games, every game is important, because it's after this game, it's less games to go. I think that's what we have to understand, not just Youssef, it's the general and a big part now.

What difference will having Ryan alongside him have?

Yeah, Ryan, I think you see it in the training, I said to him, he's a little bit like Thomas Muller, sometimes you don't know how, but he's doing the right things. I think it's great to play with two strikers in front helps as well, it's probably not always the shape, but I think it was good with our wingers in good position as well. Ryan is very impressive against the ball, very sharp, good intensity, he brings a lot of balls and gives us a good structure, and in the box he's always in the right moments. It gives a little bit more time for the other strikers, I think that's the advantage of having two strikers in front.

Was the mindset of the team impacted by Celtic’s late winner at Kilmarnock?

Yeah, I think in general, I would be lying if I say you just focus on your game before this, but of course it was present. I think what I heard so far around us in the boxes, I think everyone was surprised by the result. But this is football, I had a feeling the game would finish like this, because it was normal, for me it was more about our reaction, it was really strong. If you want and you look back to the whole day, the first result, you think ‘oh, after 2-0 it could be a different one’. Then you go 1-0 and you always come back and come back, and finally we could close the gap to just two points, and this is great. But not more, we have to take more points at the end of the season now, and it's on.

 What do you think is going to come down to? The players, the team that handles the pressure best? 

Yeah, I think everything. Of course, I think the mindset with our players is was completely there. I think 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. But I feel at the moment there's no doubt about that. Even in the training session yesterday there was 100 per cent focused 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. 

Just on the injuries, Danny, are they all short-term injuries, or are there any long-term ones? 

Yeah, what is short? What is was long? 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.

How much has the pitch through at Livingston impacted your decisions, or do you have to be mindful and careful with some players? 

Yeah, I think it's also something we have to look at, it could the decision as well. But, in general, both teams have to play on this. A lot of players have experiences on this pitch as well, so we can’t make excuses. I think we did well on the pitch before. We have to do the same on Sunday.

How close is Conor Barron to being back involved? 

I think next week he could be on the part of the training session. Yeah, he looks good, he pushed, hopefully he puts everything in now and maybe in two weeks [he could be back] as well. 

For all the successes you've had as a coach, and everything that you've done as a coach, what would it mean to you, as a manager, and your team to go on and win the title this season? 

That's a big question. Yeah, I think it means a lot for me, but of more importance than for me is for the club, for my players. It shows that we've made a lot of good decisions in the past, but for this we have to go to the end, and this is crucial. I totally believe we can do it, really. Not just because of the last result. There's no doubt about our strength of the squad now, and with the individual players, there should be no question about that. Football is football, it's all about 11 against 11 in 90 minutes, and in one game I think it's possible. We have to do it very seriously, very aggressive, good front foot defending, create chances, and then we will see where we are after the game. It could be a good day for us, a good weekend, but we have to invest again in a lot of good things. 

Danny, did you now look at the squad and see winners, who believe they can win the title now, which maybe, I guess, wasn't the case when you came in the opening days? 

Ah, in general, I think this question we will have now in the next three months a lot. After every result we will think, maybe it could be this team, it could be that team. I'm totally convinced that it's now about consistency, who takes the most points until the split. I think this is also part. You have to prepare for the final five games with the next six games. If you do well, then you have a great opportunity. In the final five games I think everything is possible when you have teams around you. It's crucial now, I think these three points are massive, because you can really decide if it's two, five or eight points, and two points helps and it looks good at the moment. But we are still not in the first position, we are still in the second position.

You mentioned Skov Olsen and his assist, do you feel that he's now beginning to get back to the level he obviously hadn't played a lot of football before coming to the club? 

I think step by step. This is what I thought when we signed him, we see something in him, we see the quality, we see the technical ability, we see the decision-making. But it was all about giving the player the right rhythm, and then you put him on. I think this is for me a big, big one. When you bring new players and you know that we are very demanding as a club, and especially the first impression is very, very important. If you have a good first impression, then it's much, much easier to play with this shirt, because then you have the confidence, and it was for me in the last four weeks were crucial to give the players the right opportunity to start, to score, to have good moments for the new signings. 

And just on that in general, the recruitment is something that had been criticised at the club, but the January signings have all made an impact. Just how pleasing is that?

Yeah, I think in general, if you ask me today, and hopefully you will agree, we signed Manny Fernandez in the summer, he looks not so bad. After the Hearts game, we can speak about Youssef, in two big games he scored, he looks not so bad. We should not forget Jayden who has played weeks after week on a consistently good level and I could continue. Then in January we added some players with the physical profile we needed. We see players that can handle the pressure in a difficult moment as well. And all the four signings at the moment we are very happy with. There’s still space for improvement, but all the four players give us exactly what we needed.