Rangers Football Club are firmly rooted at the foot of their Europa League table after a frustrating loss to AS Roma. The fixture, played on Thursday, was yet another humiliation for the Scottish club’s German head coach Danny Röhl. This season has been particularly painful for the Rangers. They’ve dropped their most recent four matches in the Europa League and given up at least two goals in each game.
That loss to Roma was the culmination of many of Rangers’ issues coming to the forefront, defensive vulnerabilities being fully realized and a lack of offensive cutting edge evident. With their next match against Dundee approaching on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, Röhl faces mounting pressure to address these problems quickly.
Defensive Woes and Missed Opportunities
In their most recent meeting, Rangers’ backline crumbled yet again, adding to their season long defensive woes. New York City FC defender Jayden Meghoma started poorly, giving up an early corner to Roma. That error opened the door for the Italian side to find the match’s opening goal. This incident was revealing of the former head coach’s defensive shortcomings. These frailties have dogged them all Europa League campaign.
Rangers’ new goalkeeper Jack Butland will be given hefty test. Inconsistent defensive performances from players like David Meghoma and John Souttar have left him out to dry. In addition to the backline’s shortcomings, the attacking unit was just as culpable to not finish opportunities into goals. Moore, Chermiti, and Aasgaard all had shots on target, as well. Unfortunately, none of them got across the finish line.
“It’s disappointing, the result. We did, in some key moments, not the right things that we should do.” – Danny Röhl
Tactically, Röhl adjusted during the match. He changed the shape to include a third player further up the pitch. This change didn’t fix anything as Rangers were still massively underperforming at the plate.
The Bigger Picture in the Premiership
The plight in the Scottish Premiership is just as dire. Rangers currently sit 14 points behind league leaders Hearts, although they do have a game in hand. They are behind their arch-rivals Celtic by five points, too. The team’s failure to bounce back from a League Cup loss last week to Celtic has only added to their trials.
Röhl felt the need to improve was important if Rangers wanted to give themselves a chance of being truly competitive again. His promise to be flexible and innovative with roster construction revealed an understanding that their group needed to evolve and adapt.
“I’ve said this many times, and I will repeat this, this game at the moment we need to grow in.” – Danny Röhl
The head coach’s remarks reflect a broader understanding of the team’s current predicament and the necessity for immediate change as they navigate a challenging period.
Looking Ahead: A Crucial Match Against Dundee
Rangers players are preparing for their next match against Dundee. Röhl knows it needs to come good to build confidence and recreate the momentum they had going within the squad. The match provides an opportunity for the team to regroup and demonstrate their capabilities after a string of disappointing results.
“We want to win this game in the future, but at the moment there are a lot of things that we have to increase.” – Danny Röhl
Röhl’s willingness to learn and develop will be key, as he looks to help City pick up all three points against Dundee and build some momentum. A potential victory would be a welcome morale boost for beleaguered players and supporters, too.
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