Rangers boss Danny Rohl insists his players should pay no attention to Martin O’Neill’s dismissal of them as also-rans.
Speaking as a pundit on national radio on Monday, just hours ahead of his shock return to Celtic as interim boss, 73-year-old O’Neill stated that Rangers were ‘no threat whatsoever’ in terms of the title race and ‘so far adrift it’s untrue’.
That could have been seen as extra motivation for the Ibrox men before tomorrow’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final with their city rivals at Hampden, but Rohl was adamant that his players don’t need any.
‘I have a big respect for him [O’Neill] and such a career,’ said the 36-year-old German. ‘But I think for me it’s always important to focus on myself.
‘I’m not a coach to look too much to other teams because we have to do a lot of work ourselves at the moment.
‘We have to do a lot of things right here. My focus is on my team. What other coaches said is, for me, not so important.
Rangers manager Danny Rohl is looking forward to experiencing his first Old Firm derby
Interim Celtic boss Martin O’Neill recently wrote off Rangers’ chances of winning the title
The Ibrox club go in to tomorrow’s clash off the back of an impressive away win at Hibernian
‘I think it’s not necessary to use such a word as [extra] motivation. My players are already really motivated for such a game. For the fans, this is more than just a game. We understand that.
‘Everybody wants to play this game because they want to be a part of this game and they want to be part of a successful team.
‘I think this is why we love football, to be part of such a game. It’s all or nothing. You win, you come into the final, you lose, you’re out. I think everything is on for a great, great game.
‘I think when you see such games on the TV [back in Germany], then you always enjoy it because there’s always action, drama, intensity, goals, tight games, a fighting spirit on the pitch. It will be a good one.’
Having claimed back-to-back wins over the past week against Kilmarnock and Hibs, Rohl’s side have bounced back from the disappointment of losing 3-0 against Brann in the Europa League in his first match in charge.
He is confident that a victory for Rangers over their bitter rivals could serve as a launchpad heading into the rest of the season.
‘It’s always good when you feel that the ideas come straight to results,’ he said. ‘I said in the morning to my coach, it would be good to play my first game [against Brann] again.
‘We only had basically one training session together before that game. Maybe now we would take a different result.
Rohl believes his players have improved since suffering a heavy defeat against Brann SK
‘The players are really listening to my ideas and showing good character on the pitch. We have taken some steps forward, now we hope Sunday can be the next one.
‘To reach the final, I think this would be a big result to do this and we could keep a great week with three wins in a row. I think it would be fantastic.
‘Of course, you feel it today as well in the meeting room, you feel it on the pitch, in the training room. At the moment, the positive energy is really back, the belief is there.’
Midfielder Connor Barron will miss the match through suspension, with Rohl reporting no fresh injury concerns throughout the rest of his squad.
Either Rangers or Celtic will face the winner of today’s semi-final, between Motherwell and St Mirren, at Hampden on December 14.
