How Danny Rohl's bold new Rangers system overwhelmed Hearts

A 4-4-2, or 4-2-2-2 , shape featuring all four of Rangers’ January arrivals was proactive and positive. The only complaint from some quarters concerned the presence of Youssef Chermiti alongside Ryan Naderi up top, just days after the young forward's glaring miss against Motherwell.

Few of those grumbles remained as Chermiti trudged off with the match ball following a 4-2 win. Rohl was vindicated on all accounts. Unlike in midweek, Rangers played the game on their terms and at their tempo.

Rohl's side were rewarded for playing with initiative, even while twice trailing at a nervy Ibrox. Derek McInnes introduced an extra defender at the break in response to Rangers’ direct threat and, as demonstrated in the race chart below, his side barely threatened thereafter.

Rangers vs Hearts xG trendline (Image: StatsBomb)

Hearts have built a reputation for their physicality, but here they were, at times, made to look small. Nico Raskin and Mikey Moore were the only players in Rohl’s 11 under six feet, and all three of Rangers’ first four goals were as full-blooded as they were creative.

Days after struggling in possession against Motherwell and facing justified criticism for a lack of on-ball identity, this was what Rohl wants Rangers to look like: strong, direct, physical, dominant - loading the box with bodies and using a fluid 4-4-2 shape to compensate for the gaps left elsewhere.

We've not seen much of his 'Red Bull' identity on the ball yet, but following the January window, it feels as though Rohl has the tools to shape up in this favoured system.

“I think so too,” Rohl said when asked by the Rangers Review if this was the type of football he wanted to play at Ibrox.

“I think it's good to have, especially against this type of opponent, physicality up front. We played with two No.10s in behind, very flexible. It was great. I think the two No.6s did their job.”

Look at the stills below, taken before those three aforementioned goals, and notice the presence Rohl’s side had in the penalty area.

It’s all very well throwing bodies forward, of course. The roles of Rangers’ full-backs, wingers and No.6s were just as important in pinning Hearts back and creating avenues to attack. Even after that disastrous mistake that led to the away side's opener.

Typically, Raskin and Tochi Chukwuani dropped deep alongside both centre-backs to create a three-vs-four - given Hearts rarely pressed man-to-man across the pitch. Mikey Moore and Andreas Skov Olsen had licence to move centrally, while either Dujon Sterling or Tuur Rommens offered width and made powerful runs beyond.

Rangers wanted to create an extra man in midfield by manipulating the Hearts press.

That's why Rohl said after the game, "Sometimes you need an extra pass" - he wanted his team to play forward when Hearts pressed and an extra man materialised. Sometimes that means slow build-up for a time before quickly finding a forward pass,

Here's a good example. On this occasion, early on, Hearts press and commit four players to press Rangers' two centre-backs and midfielders. Now, there is a free forward pass.

Hearts' press leaves space for Skov Olsen and Moore. They can outnumber Beni Baningime in front of the defence.

The knock-on effect? Look at Stuart Findlay, he's in no man's land, not willing to jump all the way to Skov Olsen and now on the back foot as Sterling begins his overlapping run, providing width with Skov Olsen tucked in.

Rangers attack forward at speed, after taking their time to build play and find the forward pass initially.

Every system carries risk, and at times - most notably just before Hearts’ equaliser - Rangers were vulnerable to attacks down the sides, with both full-backs positioned high.

Similarly, while the opening goal came from a dreadful error by Fernandez, it also exposed Rangers’ fragility when building from the back.

However, in midweek, it was Rohl who adjusted his shape - three times - to combat Motherwell’s control. Here, after a relatively even first half, it was McInnes who blinked first while Rohl held his nerve.

The German head coach has spoken recently about his team’s development in the final third. As previously highlighted, Rangers’ box attacking has been enhanced by January arrivals, and 17 goals in their last three games at Ibrox reflect that. Regardless of opposition, that output wasn’t happening a month ago.

This was a game of cat and mouse. Rohl, who worked under Barcelona boss Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich and Germany, a manager known for overloading the front line and playing with a high defensive line, has adopted similar principles, having been schooled at RB Leipzig.

What does that look like? Take this image from just before Rangers lose possession in the build-up to their first goal. With both full-backs high, the home side have a six-vs-five advantage against the Hearts defence. There's basically no midfield. If they can get the ball into the final third, the odds are in their favour.

McInnes later lamented his side’s inability to transition forward in this moment, as both teams lost the ball in quick succession.

Now, with Rommens carrying the ball in space and choosing the right moment to play forward powerfully, Rangers have a five-vs-five in attack.

It was fitting that they scored at the third attempt after forcing a save from Alexander Schwolow and hitting the crossbar. The sheer number of bodies in the box forces Steinwender to clear the ball into his own net.

The second equaliser came moments after a dangerous Hearts attack. Skov Olsen carried the ball well, and again, Rangers’ numerical presence in the Hearts half is visually striking.

Yes, like the first goal, the eventual chance comes from a Hearts error - but look at what happens after Craig Halkett blocks the ball into Chermiti's path. Hearts have no spare defender. They are under pressure with no margin for mistakes. Rangers get their rewards for comitting so many players forward.

Last week, the Rangers Review argued that the match against Queen’s Park - while acknowledging the opposition - showed Rohl’s team crossing at the right times rather than for the sake of it.

Their third goal at Ibrox on Sunday was a perfect example. First, consider how the move was built: with Chermiti dropping deep to link play and Raskin and Chukwuani helping overload the right-hand side. This was a 4-4-2 in name, but in practice, it was extremely fluid.

That overload on the right gives Skov Olsen the time and space to drive forward and deliver a perfect cross, with four options to aim at.

Hearts are unorganised, but why is Chermiti free? Because he had just dropped into midfield to build play and held his run, allowing him to arrive untracked at the front post to bullet home a header, with Halkett - who had followed him - now back in his usual right centre-back position.

Again, look at Rangers' presence in the box as Chermiti heads home.

Much of Rohl’s tenure has been defined by risk management: adapting to opponents, scoring from set-pieces, and keeping clean sheets. His late introduction of Djeidi Gassama to create the fourth goal was the type of tactical tweak and intelligent game management that has often given Rangers the edge.

But to win the title, Rangers need to play as protagonists. This win demonstrated what Rohl wants his team to look like on the ball. Fluid, vertical and quick. Attacking directly but not simply gaining territory - instead going forward only after "the extra pass" and at opportune moments.

McInnes said afterwards that he changed his shape at half-time because “it was like a game of basketball”. He was reacting to Rangers overloading his penalty box - he blinked first and in moving Claudio Braga out wide, Hearts suffered.

Rohl stuck to his plan. Happy to accept the risks for the rewards it could bring on a noisy day at Ibrox, it was he who reaped them.