Pressure is beginning to build at Ibrox, and Danny Rohl may have unintentionally put himself right at the centre of it.
With Rangers locked in a fierce Premiership title race, every word and result is being scrutinised and according to former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, the German coach has made things harder for himself at the worst possible time.
Rohl’s recent comments about Martin O’Neill and Celtic have not gone unnoticed, especially given the timing. Ahead of the Old Firm clash earlier this month, the Rangers boss questioned why Celtic failed to push harder to overturn their Europa League deficit against Stuttgart—a remark that has since come back to haunt him.
Old Firm drama fuels the narrative
Celtic’s European exit came after a 4-2 aggregate defeat, but their performance in Germany showed flashes of fight. Luke McCowan struck inside the opening minute to secure a 1-0 win on the night, yet it wasn’t enough to complete a comeback.
Rohl’s surprise at their approach raised eyebrows—and in hindsight, it may have added unnecessary fuel to an already intense rivalry.
Because when the focus shifted back to domestic action, Rangers failed to fully deliver when it mattered most.
At Ibrox, they surged into a commanding 2-0 lead against Celtic, only to let control slip in the second half. The Hoops clawed their way back into the game, eventually snatching a dramatic late equaliser through Reo Hatate’s penalty.
If that wasn’t painful enough for Rangers supporters, things got even worse just a week later.
Back at Ibrox, despite dominating large portions of their Scottish Cup quarter-final clash, Rangers were dumped out on penalties after 120 minutes of frustration.
Suddenly, the narrative had shifted—and Rohl’s earlier comments were back under the spotlight.
Sutton delivers blunt verdict
Chris Sutton believes the Rangers boss has only himself to blame for the growing criticism, suggesting his pre-match remarks have backfired badly. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport, he said:
“I think Danny Rohl has had too much to say for himself in recent times.
“Danny Rohl opened his mouth and was telling Celtic how they should have played in Europe.
“This came from a guy who’s record in Europe was pretty dour. I think Rangers fans have ramped up the pressure on Danny Rohl because they are thinking ‘why don’t you just keep your mouth shut Danny? Why are you getting involved in saying how Martin O’Neill should play?’
“It’s okay if you are seeing games through against Celtic at Ibrox and knocking them out the cup. But he didn’t and in many respects, people are thinking ‘well Danny Rohl’s eye has been taken off the ball’.
“The pressure is ramped up on Rangers now.
“You just have to focus on your own club. The fanbases are so big and they hang on every word that the manager says.
“It’s not me saying this, it’s what Rangers fans are saying about Danny Rohl. It’s an obvious observation.
“Results have been good since he came in and Rangers are in a title race but just when they are getting somewhere, why would you shoot yourself in the foot? I don’t understand that.”
A crucial moment in the title race
Despite the criticism, Rangers remain firmly in the hunt for the Premiership title. Results under Rohl have been largely positive, and there is still everything to play for in the closing stages of the season.
However, the margin for error is now razor-thin.
In a league where momentum and mentality can swing the title race in an instant, distractions—especially self-inflicted ones—can prove costly.
Rohl now finds himself needing to do more than just win matches. He must regain control of the narrative, refocus his squad, and ensure that attention remains on performances rather than comments.
Because at this stage of the season, one slip—on or off the pitch—could define everything.