How big is Rohl's Rangers rebuild this summer?

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• Published59 minutes ago

Celtic v Rangers highlights

10/05/26

It's hard to have much perspective in the immediate aftermath of your first league Old Firm derby defeat. But Danny Rohl has to learn some lessons, and quickly.

The Rangers head coach has been put out of the League Cup, Scottish Cup and now condemned to third place in the Scottish Premiership by his wily old Celtic counterpart Martin O'Neill.

There will be no Champions League qualifier for the Ibrox side after three destructive post-split defeats against Motherwell, Hearts and Celtic.

It begs a series of difficult questions and another long summer of introspection and rebuilding at Ibrox.

But how many times can this keep happening? And will Rohl be there to be part of the latest fresh start - amid reports of interest in Germany?

Is Rohl right man for Rangers?

The question is already being asked on social media feeds, down the pub and across the kitchen table among Rangers folk.

Up until the split, the answer would have been a fairly unequivocal 'yes'.

Rohl inherited a complete mess in October, including a 13-point deficit to Hearts. But, at the beginning of April, Rangers edged to the top of the league on goal difference - with Hearts not playing until the following day.

However, they have won just once in four games since, losing three in a row in the top flight for the first time since 2000. Nowhere near good enough, as the German is the first to concede.

"We had a great position before the split and this is hard to take and we have to improve and develop quick," he told BBC Sport Scotland after the Celtic Park loss.

"We have to learn in these key moments to be clinical and play without mistakes. We will learn from this.

"I will take a lot from the last three games to be prepared the best way possible. I will lead this group and I am clear about what we have to improve."

Former Ibrox midfielder Andy Halliday said it was "only natural for some Rangers fans to have their doubts" over Rohl.

Speaking on the BBC Scottish Football Podcast, he added: "It's the manner of their last two performances, in particular. When Hearts gave them a punch on the nose at Tynecastle, they didn't respond and it was the same after Celtic gave them a one-two inside four minutes.

"He doesn't like questions about mentality but it's no surprise these questions are coming.

"I think there is quality in that squad and, at the moment, Rohl is struggling to get the best out of them."

How big is Rangers' summer rebuild?

Rangers have already spent a relative fortune this season on their squad - in the region of £40m, although a significant amount came back into the club with some high-profile, lucrative departures.

Rohl may bristle when the mentality of his squad is queried, but the way the side buckled when it came to the crunch begs the question of whether there are enough of the right characters in the Ibrox dressing room.

Former Scotland international James McFadden isn't convinced.

"Winning's hard," he said on Sky Sports. "You need to run more, you need to up the intensity. That's the suffering you need. But Rangers drop their levels when they're in front and that's allowing teams in."

His former international colleague - and ex-Rangers player - Kris Boyd agrees.

"Danny Rohl will come under serious questions," Boyd said on Sky Sports. "There is a mentality problem within that group, there is no doubt about it.

"Again, it'll be another rebuild in the summer. How long does it go on for, though? There's a big, big summer for Rangers coming up and I'm fed up saying it."

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Is there a case for the defence?

Rangers have been on a bit of goal-spree lately, scoring 18 in their past six matches.

But they have only taken half of the points available, which draws serious questions about the side's inability to keep them out at the other end.

Boyd admits he had to cover his eyes at some of the defending at Celtic Park. "That's 13 goals in the last five games that Rangers have conceded," he added.

"Celtic had to suffer in that first half but they dug in and that's what real teams do. Rangers, when the going gets tough, they disappear. They become individuals.

"The defending is incredible. I look at [Nasser] Djiga and [Emmanuel] Fernandez and I don't think there's any real pride in defending. I think they want to get on the ball, and look good. If that's the way you want to play, you have to make sure you defend properly and that was abysmal."

Rangers have nothing but pride left to play for now, while their bitter rivals have eyes on yet another league and cup double.

Not for the first time, a consequential summer is in store around Ibrox way.

"I think he will be backed," Halliday said of Rohl. "But there's no Champions League pot, or a guaranteed later round in the Europa League, so it wouldn't surprise me if there's a set figure leading up to the qualifiers and then it depends on how that goes.

"The difficulty with that is you're talking about the last two or three weeks of the window, when a lot of people have done their business and you might have to pay over the odds."

What are Rangers fans saying?

Alex: "This was a weak performance. It doesn't matter how well they start as soon as the opposition score the team falls apart. No passion, fight, aggression, determination, absolutely nothing to give the fanbase any hope whatsoever."

Graeme: "Can't keep sacking managers and spending millions on players. Should give coach and players more time to develop together. Can then dominate again like 40 years ago."

Ian: "The truth is at least nine players won't be here in the summer - nearly all of Russell Martin's signings. Rohl needs to buy at least four defenders and three midfielders if he stays. The jury is out."

Lewis: "Rohl has to go. When the going has got tough his team have folded without a fight and his 'cup finals' have all been lost. I don't see any signs that anything would be different next season. Bite the bullet and change now or regret."

Nick: "Rohl has to go. Being better than the worst manager Rangers have ever had is not reason enough to stick with someone who is clearly out of his depth."

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